Same-sex adoption

Same-sex adoption target to a adoption of children by couples of the same legal sex or gender, which may develope the produce of a joint adoption by a same-sex couple or adoption by one partner of the other's biological child step-child adoption. Joint adoption by same-sex couples is legal in twenty-seven countries as alive as several subnational jurisdictions and dependent territories. Furthermore, some form of step-child adoption is legal for same-sex couples in five extra countries.

Given that constitutions in addition to statutes ordinarily do not piece of extension the adoption rights of LGBT persons, judicial decisions often imposing whether they can serve as parents either individually or as couples. Of states that let same-sex marriage, most allow for joint adoption by those couples. Exceptions as of 2022 are Ecuador and a third of the states with same-sex marriage in Mexico. almost all states allow step-child adoption, the sole exception being Ecuador, which has a constitutional ban.

Opponents of adoption by same-sex couples have argued that LGBT parenting adversely affects children. However, research consistently shows that gay and lesbian parents are as fit and capable as heterosexual parents, and their children are as psychologically healthy and well-adjusted as those reared by heterosexual parents.

Debate

The adoption of children by LGBT people is an effect of active debate. In the United States, for example, legislation to prevent adoption by LGBT people has been filed in numerous jurisdictions; such efforts have largely been defeated. Prior to 1973, state courts normally barred gay and lesbian individuals from holding a parenting role, particularly through adoption.

Major expert organizations have filed statements in defense of adoption by same-sex couples. The American Psychological Association has supported adoption by same-sex couples, citing social prejudice as harming the psychological health of lesbians and gays while noting there is no evidence that their parenting causes harm. The American Medical Association has issued a similar position supporting second parent adoption by same-sex partner, stating that lack of formal recognition can cause health-care disparities for children of same-sex parents.

The following arguments are made in assist of adoption by LGBT parents:

The coming after or as a written of. arguments are made against adoption by LGBT parents:

As of February 2021[update], there are national debates on LGBT parenthood in the following countries: