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Adoption by Lesbians and Gay Men: a New Dimension in Family Diversity (2011A)

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Adoption by Lesbians and Gay Men: a New Dimension in Family Diversity (2011A) October 2011 Expanding Resources for Children III Research-Based Best Practices in Adoption by Gays and Lesbians David M. Brodzinsky, Ph.D. Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute 120 East 38th Street | New York | NY, 10016 212.925.4089 NY | 617.332.8944 MA | 775.796.6592 FAX EVAN B. DONALDSON ADOPTION INSTITUTE EXPANDING RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN III: RESEARCH-BASED BEST PRACTICES IN ADOPTION BY GAYS AND LESBIANS Policy and Practice Perspective October 2011 Prepared by: David M. Brodzinsky, Ph.D. & Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute Funded by: The David Bohnett Foundation and the Gill Foundation EXPANDING RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN III: RESEARCH - BASED BEST PRACTICES IN ADOPTION BY GAYS AND LESBIANS OCTOBER 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... 5 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................10 THE GROWTH OF LESBIAN AND GAY ADOPTION ..............................................................12 Legal Reforms Related to Lesbian and Gay Adoption ...........................................................12 Research Findings Related to Parenting by Lesbians and Gay Men .....................................12 Shifts in Societal Attitudes and Support Related to Lesbian and Gay Families ......................13 How Prevalent is Adoption by Lesbians and Gay Men? .........................................................14 To What Extent Do Adoption Agencies Work with Lesbians and Gay Men? ..........................15 Are Certain Types of Adoption More Common among Lesbians and Gay Men? ...................15 SURVEY OF LESBIAN/GAY ADOPTIVE PARENTS ...............................................................17 Methodology............................................................................................................................17 Sample Recruitment ..............................................................................................................17 Demographic Characteristics of Respondents .......................................................................18 Survey Description ................................................................................................................19 Survey Findings ......................................................................................................................20 Nature of Adoptive Placements .............................................................................................20 Legal Knowledge and Second Parent Adoptions ...................................................................21 Characteristics of Most Recently Adopted Child ....................................................................21 Awareness of and Response to Adoption Recruiting Methods ...............................................22 Managing Information about Sexual Orientation ....................................................................23 Perceived Bias during the Adoption Process .........................................................................24 Pre-Adoption Preparation and Education ...............................................................................25 Relationship with Birthparents ...............................................................................................26 Satisfaction with Adoption Provider Experience .....................................................................27 Post-Adoption Training ..........................................................................................................29 Unmet Education and Training Needs ...................................................................................30 Perceived Barriers to Lesbian and Gay Adoption ..................................................................31 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................33 What Type of Adoptions Do Most Lesbian and Gay Men Complete? .....................................33 Managing Sexual Orientation Information during the Adoption Process.................................36 Experiencing Bias during Adoption ........................................................................................37 Are Lesbian and Gay Parents Satisfied with their Adoption Experience? ...............................37 Open Adoption among Lesbian and Gay Adopters ................................................................38 Pre- and Post-Adoption Preparation, Education and Support ................................................39 Perceived Barriers to Adoption ..............................................................................................42 Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute 3 EXPANDING RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN III: RESEARCH - BASED BEST PRACTICES IN ADOPTION BY GAYS AND LESBIANS OCTOBER 2011 Similarities and Differences in Adoption by Lesbians and Gay Men .......................................43 Similarities and Differences in Adoption for Single and Partnered Lesbian/Gay Parents .......44 Limitations of the Study .........................................................................................................46 RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................................................................47 Advocate to Remove Legal and Cultural Barriers for LGBT Adoption ....................................47 Foster Positive LGBT Leadership and Values among Agencies and Other Professionals .....50 Create an Atmosphere that is Welcoming and Respectful .....................................................51 Promote LGBT Sensitivity and Competence among Agency Staff & External Consultants ....53 Provide Appropriate Pre-Adoption Preparation and Support for LGBT Clients .......................54 Provide Pre-Adoption Education and Support for Birth Families and Older Children..............56 Provide Appropriate Post-Adoption Education and Support for LGBT Families .....................57 Support Research on Adoption and Parenting .......................................................................58 CONCLUSION ..........................................................................................................................58 REFERENCES .........................................................................................................................60 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We are deeply grateful to the David Bohnett Foundation and the Gill Foundation for providing the funding for this study. In addition to the research and policy analysis conducted by the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute (Brodzinsky, 2003, 2011a; Brodzinsky et al., 2011; Brodzinsky & Pertman, 2011; Howard, 2006, 2008; Pertman & Howard, 2011), including the findings from the current study, several organizations and a number of adoption scholars have been active in the past few years in developing improved standards of practice for working with gay and lesbian adoptive families. We would especially like to recognize the seminal work of the Human Rights Campaign (2009), the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (Hill, 2009; Mallon & Betts, 2005) and Gary Mallon (2006, 2011), as resources that have guided our policy analysis and practice recommendations. Policy and Practice Perspectives are research-based publications that focus on important and timely issues in the adoption and child welfare fields. We greatly appreciate the input of all the scholars and professionals who reviewed this paper and provided research and editorial assistance. They include Dr. Scott Ryan, University of Texas at Arlington, Dr. Gary Mallon, Hunter College; Dr. Ruth McRoy, Boston College; and Dr. Abbie Goldberg, Clark University. We are especially grateful to the gay and lesbian adoptive parents who participated in this study. Send questions and comments to [email protected]. All contents (c) 2011 by the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute. Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute 4 EXPANDING RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN III: RESEARCH - BASED BEST PRACTICES IN ADOPTION BY GAYS AND LESBIANS OCTOBER 2011 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY n every region and state in America, gay fathers and lesbian mothers are raising children. For a range of reasons, not everyone in our country likes or wants to accept this reality, but I it is a reality nevertheless. And it is also true that adoption – primarily of “waiting” children and youth from foster care – is one of the reasons for this growing phenomenon. The good news is that both research and experience indicate that non-heterosexual parents are bringing up their children with sensitivity and competence comparable to that of their straight counterparts and, as a result, their sons and daughters are adjusting just as well. Nevertheless, societal stigmas relating to adoption by lesbians and gay men remain, as do institutional barriers. These impediments do not further the best interests of children; indeed, they prevent or delay permanency for many, undermining their long-term psychosocial and academic adjustment. With over 100,000 children continuing to linger in foster care, despite being legally freed for adoption, every effort must be made to find timely and permanent placements for them, as well as for all the other children, in our country and abroad, who would benefit from adoption. To maximize the number of suitable, vetted, trained and available families for the
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