Adoption for gay couples

Despite the challenges that existed for gay parents hoping to adopt just 10 years ago, many children found their forever family — through an infant adoption or foster care adoption — with an LGBT couple. LGBTQ rights have come a long way. Thankfully, adoption is a viable path to any LGBTQ couple who dream of becoming parents. Here’s how it works, what to consider and why adoption might be perfect for your growing family.

If you are an LGBTQ individual or same-sex couple interested in pursuing an intercountry adoption, you will need to do your research and contact an international adoption agency to see what countries you may be eligible to adopt from. Over the past several decades, more LGBTQ+ couples have chosen adoption to grow their families.

The United States Census reports that between 2 and million children under the age of 18 have an LGBTQ+ parent, that same-sex parents are more than 6 times as likely to become foster parents and more than 4 times more likely to pursue adoption as. Whether prospective parents are looking for guidance on adoption for gay couples or services that openly welcome all members of the LGBTQ+ community, we treat all adoptive parents equally and without judgment.

Learning about LGBT international adoption will help you prepare for the journey ahead. Speaking with an adoption professional can help you understand what to expect throughout the process. Do I Need an Agency for Adoption? While joint LGBT adoption is now legal in the United States , some same-sex couples are drawn to an international gay adoption instead. Over the past decade, many foreign countries have started restricting international adoptions for all couples.

One of the best ways to do so is by talking with an international adoption professional. If you are a pregnant woman who is placing your baby for adoption, you can view profiles of hopeful adoptive families by clicking this link. No matter your sexual orientation, the international adoption process can be somewhat complicated. Some international adoptions are subject to Hague Convention requirements , as well. So, clearly, the legal process of an international adoption is very involved — and adopting as a same-sex couple can add even more legal steps.

Because some countries do not recognize same-sex marriage, trying to adopt a child jointly from one of those countries will be impossible. Of course, the laws of the country that you choose to adopt from will impact how your adoption actually plays out.

Some countries that were once open to adoptions from Americans have either restricted them or barred them completely. Therefore, the international adoption process is much more difficult than it used to be. That being said, there are still a few countries that allow gay adoption from foreigners. They are:. The Philippines are like most countries around the world.

You can find out if a certain country allows for adoptions by Americans here. Most of the countries that recognize same-sex marriage and, therefore, joint adoption can be found here , but keep in mind — not all of these countries have adoption arrangements with the United States. As mentioned before, the best way to find out what LGBT international adoption options are available to you is by working through an international adoption agency.

Some international adoption agencies to reach out to include:. There are plenty of domestic options for gay and lesbian adoptions as well, but which process you ultimately end up choosing will be entirely up to you. Get Started Read More.

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Scroll to How does an LGBT international adoption work? Work with U. Citizenship and Immigration Services to prepare for bringing an adopted child back into the country. Travel to that country to adopt your child and then finalize and legalize your adoption back in the U. Which are the countries that allow same-sex adoption? They are: Colombia Brazil must be at least 25 years old The Philippines must be completed individually The Philippines are like most countries around the world.