A few decades ago, the general consensus was that children need a male father and a female mother to raise them. Today, sentiments are gradually changing, with more and more people believing that gender doesn’t really matter when parenting. The tremendous increase in the number of children living with LGBTQ+ parents supports this fact. And the numbers are set to grow with the increasing acceptance of same-sex marriage, adoption, and parenting.
But prospective parents would love to know how accessible gay adoption is in the U.S. Just how many same-sex couples seek to adopt? And how many of the adoption requests are successful? In other words, is the success rate for same-sex marriage adoptions promising? Having the correct information at your fingertips is necessary if you’re embarking on this exciting journey. To help you out, we’ve compiled some same-sex adoption facts to help you.
Same-Sex Marriage Adoption Is Legal And Beneficial
Though same-sex adoptions attracted a great deal of controversy for some time, they are now legal in America. They became legal following the ruling by the Supreme Court that legalized gay and lesbian marriages in 2015. As such, same-sex couples are now free to adopt a child together if they are lawfully wedded. Same-sex married couples can adopt via a public or non-faith-based agency.
Many people believe that kids who grow up under same-sex parenting are disadvantaged emotionally, socially, and culturally. But this is a far-fetched belief with no real scientific proof to back it up. If anything, research shows that kids from same-sex households don’t exhibit any detrimental psychological effects. That proves that same-sex marriage adoptions are just as beneficial as opposite-sex adoptions.
LGBTQ+ Couples Are More Likely To Adopt
According to a survey conducted in 2013, 13% of children were adopted by same-sex parents compared to only 3% by heterosexual couples. The logical explanation for these stats is that same-sex couples generally need different methods to conceive biological children. But more than anything else, this proves how LGBTQ+ couples are more likely to adopt than their opposite-sex counterparts. The stats reveal that in 2010 alone, an estimated 115,064 same-sex parents have adopted children in the U.S. In addition, over 60,000 children were living with same-sex parents a decade ago despite the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community.
Same-Sex Couples Help Find Homes For Foster Children
Children typically require an average of between 3 and 4 years to be adopted in America. That means foster homes are the next best alternative in the interim, which translates to an average of between 10 and 20 months in foster care. Research shows that the LGBTQ+ community has become a lifeline for foster children. In 2007, lesbian and gay couples were responsible for fostering more than 14,000 children. In addition, same-sex couples tend to adopt transracially. States like Mississippi and Montana recorded the most interracial adoptions in the U.S.
LGBTQ+ Couples Raise More Tolerant Adults
As you can imagine, accommodating differences in sexual orientation requires some level of open-mindedness and acceptance. Children raised by same-sex parents are less discriminating and more tolerant of others. This comes as no surprise since same-sex couples often value and celebrate differences. Equality in gender roles is another value of same-sex couples. And these traits tend to linger as the child enters adulthood.
Conclusion
While previously shunned upon, same-sex marriage adoptions are increasingly becoming widely recognized and accepted in the U.S. Views surrounding the LGBTQ+ community are shifting towards a more liberal approach. Not only are same-sex marriage adoptions legal, but they are also increasing in numbers. Reservations and unfounded theories about children raised by same-sex parents are slowly dissipating. If anything, children adopted by same-sex parents are more open-minded and accepting of others, given the non-judgmental environment they’re raised in. If you have chosen to adopt, you and your child will receive many benefits.