About Lesbian and Gay Adoption Rights

Lesbian and gay adoption rights have come along way in recent years, but it is still not completely equal when compared to heterosexual rights as it relates to adoption. There are many children in the foster care systems that remain because there are not enough adopting families. However, only a handful of states allow for same-sex couples to jointly adopt.

States that Currently Allow Joint Adoption among Gay and Lesbian Couples 

The states that currently allow same-sex couples to jointly adopt a child are New Jersey, New York, California, New Mexico, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. Other states may allow one of the partners to adopt, but not at the same time. Florida was the only state that had banned any kind of gay adoption until it was overturned in 2009 ruling it unconstitutional.

Prejudice within the System

Even though a single gay or lesbian person can seek adoption in every state, there are still prejudices that are faced. Couples that have the legal right to adopt jointly in some states also find that they will be passed over for consideration if a heterosexual couple wanted the child. Therefore, there are times when a gay or lesbian couple or singles are made to prove their stability much more than a heterosexual couple.

Gay and Lesbians Couple Statistics and Heterosexual Couple Statistics

The statistics of gay and lesbian couples ending their relationships are comparable to heterosexual marriages, which end in divorce 50 percent of the time. This means that in today's world, it is no longer an argument to state that a child needs a father and a mother under the same roof because there is only a 50 percent chance that child will have both parents remaining married.