• Home
  • About
  • Life Style
  • Family
  • Tips
  • Health
  • Business
  • Pets
  • Recipes
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

When Parents Text

When Parents Text

Adopting Children as a Same-Sex Couple in America

March 19, 2021 by Annie

Adoption by gay and lesbian couples is increasing. However, these soon-to-be-families continue to face prejudice and bureaucratic hurdles. According to a study conducted by the Urban Institute in 2007, 3% of foster children and 4% of adopted children live with lesbian and gay parents. In fact, the same study found that approximately two million more homosexual couples are either in the process of or considering adoption.

Another study conducted by Family Equality found that gay and lesbian couples are six times more likely to adopt a child than heterosexual couples. Gay and lesbian couples, despite prejudicial and bureaucratic obstacles, are poised to be an important bridge for children who need a loving and supportive family.

Gay Adoption: Where is it Legal?

In 2015 in the Obergefell v. Hodges decision, the U.S. Supreme Court found that marriage is a fundamental right guaranteed to same-sex couples pursuant to the Equal Protection and Due Process clauses of the Constitution. Following that decision, a bevy of state laws that restricted marriage and similar rights to heterosexual couples were overturned – including laws related to adoption. Today, all states allow adoption and fostering by same-sex couples. However, legal protections and practice enforcement are two different beasts, and not all couples are treated the same in all states or counties.

International Adoption

While adoption by homosexual couples within the United States is legal in all states, the same rights do not extend internationally. Many counties ban the adoption of children by single and gay men or limit adoptions to heterosexual women.

Navigating Adoption Agencies

While all state agencies are required to place children with any family that is fit to raise the child, not all state agencies treat homosexual couples with respect as heterosexual ones. Consulting with an LGBT family-friendly law firm can help steer a same-sex couple away from unfriendly agencies. The stress and cost of adopting a child are already immense without the added pressure from prejudice.

In general, gay and lesbian families can avoid unfriendly adoption agencies with a few tricks. First, potential parents should examine the agency’s website. Does it have pictures of hetero- and homosexual couples? Does its mission statement or policies include an express anti-discrimination statement related to sexual orientation or identity?

Adoption and Divorce

When an adoption is finalized, one of two things will have occurred: either one or both adults are the child’s legal parent. If both adults jointly adopted the child, then they both are the legal parents of the child. If a divorce occurs, the couple will need to deal with child custody issues through their respective family court system.

If only one of the adults adopted the child, only that adult is the legal parent. The other parent will have little or no grounds to contest physical and legal custody over the child or even negotiate for visitation rights. In some states, a divorced same-sex partner can seek visitation or custodial rights to establish that he or she intended to raise the child jointly with the other parent. However, this a difficult legal argument.

 

About Me

Hi! I'm Annie and I have 3 kids (all in their teens - yikes!). My mommy blog isn't all about lunches and DIY - it's also about humour. Like how my kids make fun of my texts as if I don't know how to use emojis (I DO!). Now that I have a bit more time - since my kids don't want to hang out with me (teenagers), I have taken up blogging.

How Often Should Employees Undergo Drug and Alcohol Testing?

June 24, 2025 By Annie

Fences That Breathe: Why Horizontal Slats Are Everywhere in 2025

June 13, 2025 By Annie

Teens, Time-Sharing, and Tantrums Adjusting Summer Plans for Older Children in Custody Cases

June 10, 2025 By Annie

How to Sell a Vacant or Damaged Property Fast in West Virginia Without an Agent

June 6, 2025 By Annie

The Silent Home: How Acoustic Insulation Transforms Living Spaces

June 4, 2025 By Annie

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

How Often Should Employees Undergo Drug and Alcohol Testing?
  • Uncategorized

How Often Should Employees Undergo Drug and Alcohol Testing?

By Annie / June 24, 2025
Source In the quest for a safe, healthy, and productive workplace, employee drug and alcohol testing has become a significant...
Read More
Fences That Breathe: Why Horizontal Slats Are Everywhere in 2025
  • Uncategorized

Fences That Breathe: Why Horizontal Slats Are Everywhere in 2025

By Annie / June 13, 2025
  You've probably noticed them popping up all over neighborhoods—those sleek, modern fences with horizontal slats that seem to be...
Read More
Teens, Time-Sharing, and Tantrums Adjusting Summer Plans for Older Children in Custody Cases
  • Uncategorized

Teens, Time-Sharing, and Tantrums Adjusting Summer Plans for Older Children in Custody Cases

By Annie / June 10, 2025
There’s no getting around it. Raising a teenager is a journey of its own. Add in summer custody schedules, shifting...
Read More
How to Sell a Vacant or Damaged Property Fast in West Virginia Without an Agent
  • Blog

How to Sell a Vacant or Damaged Property Fast in West Virginia Without an Agent

By Annie / June 6, 2025
If you're sitting on a vacant or damaged property in West Virginia and wondering how to sell it without a...
Read More
The Silent Home: How Acoustic Insulation Transforms Living Spaces
  • Blog

The Silent Home: How Acoustic Insulation Transforms Living Spaces

By Annie / June 4, 2025
In today's noise-filled world, the quest for peace and quiet has never been more urgent. As remote work becomes a...
Read More
How To: Transforming Your Baby’s Nursery Into a Montessori Learning Haven
  • Family

How To: Transforming Your Baby’s Nursery Into a Montessori Learning Haven

By Annie / May 30, 2025
Montessori principles emphasize fostering independence, curiosity, and respect for your baby's natural growth. By integrating these methods into your baby's...
Read More
Why More Parents Are Choosing Invisalign for Their Teens
  • Health

Why More Parents Are Choosing Invisalign for Their Teens

By Annie / May 27, 2025
Orthodontic treatment has come a long way from the days of bulky metal braces. Today, many parents are turning to...
Read More
Save Your Business Time And Money By Outsourcing Payroll To A Professional Service
  • Business

Save Your Business Time And Money By Outsourcing Payroll To A Professional Service

By Annie / May 19, 2025
The way we do business has been through some sea changes in recent years. A great deal of commerce has...
Read More
Pet Vaccines Through Life Stages: A Complete Guide
  • Uncategorized

Pet Vaccines Through Life Stages: A Complete Guide

By Annie / May 16, 2025
Your pet's health journey evolves dramatically as they age, and their vaccination needs change right along with them. From those...
Read More
What spring risotto recipes are worth trying out?
  • Uncategorized

What spring risotto recipes are worth trying out?

By Annie / May 13, 2025
Risotto lends itself wonderfully to springtime flavors. Creamy and comforting yet light, it perfectly showcases the first vegetables of the...
Read More

About Us

Hi! I’m Annie and I have 3 kids (all in their teens – yikes!). My mommy blog isn’t all about lunches and DIY – it’s also about humour. Like how my kids make fun of my texts as if I don’t know how to use emojis (I DO!)... Read More…

When Parents Text

  • Home
  • About
  • Life Style
  • Family
  • Tips
  • Health
  • Business
  • Pets
  • Recipes
  • Contact

© 2025 · Pretty Creative WordPress Theme by, Pretty Darn Cute Design