ADOPTION AND FOSTER PARENTING 

In recent years, there has been a huge increase in the number of GLBT couples and individuals adopting and serving as foster parents to infants and children.  While conservative religious and political groups continue to campaign against GLBT parenting by working to oppose GLBT adoption, foster parenting, custody/visitation and other parenting rights, nontraditional families continue to thrive.  In some states, gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals or couples can adopt, and in others, they cannot. (Florida is the only state that explicitly prohibits adoption by gay and lesbian individuals and same-sex couples. Mississippi prohibits same-sex couples from adoption and second-parent adoption. Utah forbids adoption by any unmarried cohabiting couple, thereby discriminating against all same-sex couples.)  Whether or not an individual or couple can adopt within any particular state may depend upon what county they live in or the judge that hears their case. States also vary on second-parent/step-parent/joint adoption laws, which allow the non-biological or non-legal parent to establish a legal relationship with their child.

In contrast to the claims of conservative groups, many important child welfare organization including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Association, Child Welfare League of America, and the North American Council on Adoptable Children support the right of GLBT persons to adopt and/or be a foster parent.

For more information on the status of adoption, foster care and parenting laws in your state see Overview of State Adoption Laws and for a general overview of the status of same-sex adoption laws see Adoption by Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Parents: An Overview of Current Law.