Gay and Lesbian Adoption: Overview.

The issue of adoption by gay and lesbian Americans, and especially same-sex couples, has long been a controversial one. Like many other couples, LGBTQ couples often wish to adopt children. Yet historically gay and lesbian people often had to hide their sexual orientation in order to adopt and raise children. Prior to the US Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in June 2015, twelve states did not allow same-sex couples to adopt foster children jointly. While increasing social acceptance made gay and lesbian adoption more common in the twenty-first century, states varied in whether or not they explicitly prohibited discrimination in adoption and foster care based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Some states continued to allow child welfare agencies to refuse adoption to same-sex couples on the grounds of religious objection.