Adoption

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) adults are among the thousands who adopt children each year.

Some adopt children they are raising with a partner (often the biological child of their partner), thereby creating a legal bond where a familial one already exists.

Some are selected by family members or close friends to adopt a child upon the death or incapacity of the child's parent(s).

Many adopt through public or private agencies, domestically and internationally.

There are different ways for lesbians and gay men to adopt. Most commonly available is individual adoption of a child as a single parent. However, some states explicitly prohibit or regularly deny adoptions by LGBT individuals.

In contrast, married opposite-sex couples in all parts of the country are free to pursue joint adoption, and stepparent adoption by a spouse tends to be a simple process, with only the most cursory investigation of the adoptive parent.