Growing numbers of gay couples across the country are adopting, according to census data, despite an uneven legal landscape that can leave their children without the rights and protections extended to children of heterosexual parents.So the growth in gay parenting isn't just gay couples raising children from former straight relationships, but growth in adoption as well.
Same-sex couples are explicitly prohibited from adopting in only two states — Utah and Mississippi — but they face significant legal hurdles in about half of all other states, particularly because they cannot legally marry in those states.
Despite this legal patchwork, the percentage of same-sex parents with adopted children has risen sharply. About 19 percent of same-sex couples raising children reported having an adopted child in the house in 2009, up from just 8 percent in 2000, according to Gary Gates, a demographer at the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Census Shows Rise in Gay Adoptions
From the New York Times:
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I'm curious to see how other Adult Adoptees respond to this, especially those so opposed to IA, due to cultural losses, inherent racial issues, possible child trafficking, etc.
Would this not then be one more subset group of AP's selfishly pursuing the adoption of a child despite any cost? Especially given the legal vulnerabilities they face and therefore pass onto their children?
Or is this just another group seeking parenthood and looking beyond the limitation forced upon them by soceital laws limiting marital status? Additionally the article doesn't say if they are largely adopting from Foster Care, children at risk and harder to place or healthy infants.
Interesting. Also, Malinda, are you saying this article correlates to an overall increase in adoptable children in the U.S? Just curious if I misread that?
Thanks!
Anon. Carrie
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