Adoption, Choices About

Adoption is the legal securement of a parent’s relationship with a child not biologically related to the parent. Approximately 1 million children in the United States live with adoptive parents and 2.5% of families include an adopted child. Estimates suggest that around 4% of adopted children are living with LGBTQ parents. People may choose to adopt [Page 8]a child rather than have a biological child for a variety of reasons. These may include the inability to conceive one’s own children, preference for providing a home to a child in need, or to secure parental rights for a nonbiologically related parent (e.g., a partner choosing to adopt the biological children of their partner/spouse). This entry describes the issues related to adoption choices for LGBTQ potential parents. ...