Studies Highlight Obstacles to Fostering and Adoption for LGBTQ People

Discrimination and misinformation may be keeping many LGBTQ people in the U.S. and U.K. from becoming foster or adoptive parents, according to two recent studies—but resources are available to help!

In the U.S.

LGBT people are more than three times as likely as non-LGBT ones to say that discrimination based on gender or sexual identity is a major barrier to fostering or adoption, according to a study conducted by Gallup and Kidsave last spring, with 35% of LGBT people surveyed saying it’s a barrier to fostering and 36% saying it is a barrier to adoption, versus 10% of non-LGBT people in each case.

Nevertheless, LGBT American adults are “significantly” more likely than non-LGBT ones to express an interest in fostering children and to consider adopting from the foster care system. Thirty-seven percent of LGBTQ adults surveyed have seriously considered fostering a child, and 32% have seriously considered adoption, versus 23% and 15% of non-LGBT adults, respectively.

And while LGBT women are more likely than LGBT men to have considered adopting or fostering (44% of LGBT women versus 29% of LGBT men for fostering; 37% versus 26% for adoption), LGBT men are more than twice as likely than LGBT women to say “discrimination based on gender or sexual identity is a major barrier” to fostering or adopting from foster care. (46% of LGBT men say this is a barrier to foster care, 49% say it is a barrier to adoption, and only 22% of LGBT women saying it is a barrier in either case.)

Being LGBT isn’t the only reason to fear discrimination, however. The study also found that 25% of Black Americans and 21% of Hispanic adults said racial and ethnic discrimination is a major barrier to providing foster care, versus 13% of White Americans. Black and Hispanic LGBT people, therefore, may face multiple discriminatory hurdles in fostering and adoption.

Nearly 400,000 children are in foster care in the U.S., according to the latest federal data, with more than 200,000 entering it every year, and more than 100,000 waiting to be adopted. While more than 200,000 also leave care each year, the need for new foster parents for the new children is clear—not every foster parent will go on to foster again.

Currently, 28 states and D.C. have laws or policies prohibiting discrimination in adoption based on sexual orientation and gender identity; another four prohibit it based on sexual orientation alone, per the Movement Advancement Project. Conversely, however, 13 states permit state-licensed child welfare agencies to refuse to place and provide services to children and families, including LGBTQ people, if doing so conflicts with their religious beliefs. Let’s be clear: These religious exemption laws prevent children from finding needed homes.

If you think that fostering or adoption might be right for you, I urge you not to let the fear of discrimination stop you from trying. Even states with bad laws have many good people in them, and you might find allies in unexpected places. Check out my “Resources for LGBTQ Prospective Foster Parents” and “Starter Resources for LGBTQ People Considering Adoption” for some places to begin, whether you have questions about legal matters or about preparing to bring a foster or adopted child into your home.

If you do encounter discrimination, several major LGBTQ legal organizations offer helplines to address questions and provide attorney referrals:

In the U.K.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the ocean, a study from Swiis Foster Care, the U.K.’s largest independent foster care agency, found that although 32% of LGBTQ people surveyed said they are interested in fostering a child, 19% said they were “unsure if they would qualify because of their sexuality.”

According to Swiis Foster Care, however, people are eligible to foster in the U.K. if they are: “over 21 years old, have a stable living environment with a spare bedroom, whether they are private renters or homeowners, have either British Citizenship or Indefinite Leave to Remain and a genuine interest in providing a safe, caring home for a child.”

Nearly 70,000 children live with almost 55,000 foster families across the U.K., comprising nearly three-quarters of the more than 98,000 children in care away from home, according to The Fostering Network, the U.K.’s leading fostering charity. About 30,000 children come into care over the course of 12 months, with “similar numbers” leaving care—but again, there’s an ongoing need for new carers.

If you want to learn more about fostering or adopting in the U.K., visit Swiis Foster Care, The Fostering Network, or New Family Social, the U.K. support group for LGBTQ adopters and foster carers.