Lesbian and Gay Adoption

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Adoption by Lesbians and Gays:

A National Survey of Adoption Agency Policies, Practices, and Attitudes

ADOPTION BY LESBIANS AND GAYS:
A NATIONAL SURVEY OF
ADOPTION AGENCY POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND ATTITUDES
Funded by the Rainbow Endowment
David M. Brodzinsky, Ph.D.[i] and the Staff of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2
INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE OF RESEARCH 6
  CHANGING NATURE OF ADOPTION PRACTICE 6
  BARRIERS TO ADOPTION BY LESBIANS AND GAYS 7
  RESEARCH ON PARENTING BY LESBIANS AND GAYS 8
  ADOPTION BY HOMOSEXUALS: AGENCY POLICIES AND PRACTICES 10
  GOALS OF THE STUDY 12
METHODOLOGY 12
  SURVEY SAMPLE 12
  PROCEDURES AND RESEARCH FORMAT 14
SURVEY RESULTS 16
  AGENCY CHARACTERISTICS 16
  NONPARTICIPANT CHARACTERISTICS 19
  AWARENESS OF ADOPTION LAW 20
  AGENCY POLICY REGARDING HOMOSEXUAL ADOPTION 20
  ACCEPTANCE OF ADOPTION APPLICATIONS FROM HOMOSEXUALS 21
  SEXUAL ORIENTATION INFORMATION COLLECTION 22
  REJECTION OF HOMOSEXUAL APPLICANTS 24
  PLACEMENT PRACTICES OF AGENCIES IN RELATION TO LESBIANS AND GAYS 24
  INFORMATION SHARING WITH PROSPECTIVE BIRTH PARENTS 25
  RECRUITMENT OF LESBIAN AND GAY ADOPTIVE PARENTS 26
  TRAINING IN WORKING WITH LESBIAN AND GAY PROSPECTIVE ADOPTERS 28
  ATTITUDES REGARDING ADOPTION AND PARENTING BY HOMOSEXUAL ADULTS 29
DISCUSSION 33
  LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY 38
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS 39
AREAS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH 42












EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

ADOPTION BY GAYS AND LESBIANS:

NEW STUDY SHOWS MOST AGENCIES NOW ACCEPT HOMOSEXUALS AS PARENTS




      Considerable controversy surrounds the issue of parenting by gays and lesbians, and it seems certain to escalate. It is a critical component of the debate over whether homosexuals should be permitted to marry, and it continues to divide policymakers in the United States – as well as in Canada and other countries – as they formulate laws and practices relating to... [continues]

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