Gay Adoption Research Articles

Supplemental Material for Longitudinal Associations Between Coparenting and Child Adjustment Among Lesbian, Gay, and Heterosexual Adoptive Parent Families

Supplemental Material for Longitudinal Associations Between Coparenting and Child Adjustment Among Lesbian, Gay, and Heterosexual Adoptive Parent Families

Psychiatrists Welcome India’s Historic Ruling on Homosexuality

Psychiatrists in India and around the world helped promote the culture change that allowed for the decriminalization of homosexuality.

Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Adoption Law

The legal landscape surrounding adoption by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning/queer (LGBTQ) parents continues to be dynamic and variable across the United States, yet the topic is generally viewed favorably by Americans and increasing numbers of LGBTQ adults are becoming adoptive parents. In this essay, we explore intersections of sexual orientation, gender identity, and adoption law. We discuss connections between parenting (including adoption) and marriage rights, highlight the influence of varying legal contexts and discrimination for LGBTQ adults who pursue adoption (including case examples from Florida after the gay adoption ban was lifted), and incorporating the perspectives of adoption‐agency personnel working with LGBTQ clients.

“There Is No Perfect School”: The Complexity of School Decision‐Making Among Lesbian and Gay Adoptive Parents

Parents influence their children's educational experiences in part via school selection. This process is particularly complex for families with multiple minority, potentially stigmatized, statuses. This qualitative study examines middle‐class lesbian and gay (LG) adoptive parents' school decision‐making. Parents' economic resources provided the foundation for how parents weighed child/family identities (children's race, LG‐parent family structure, child's special needs) and school‐related concerns (e.g., academic rigor). For White gay male‐headed families in affluent urban communities, financial resources muted racial and sexual orientation consciousness in favor of competitive academic environments. Lesbian mothers of modest economic means prioritized racial diversity more centrally. Racial diversity overrode gay‐friendliness as a consideration in lesbian‐mother families; gay‐friendliness was prioritized over racial diversity among families in conservative communities; and special needs overrode all other child and family identity considerations. For LG adoptive parent families, school decision‐making has the potential for greater tensions amidst multiple intersecting identities and fewer economic resources.

Ideological Orientations, LGBT Contact, and Formation of LGBT Policy Position

LGBT rights in the United States have increasingly become the subject of significant public discourse, with issues relating to policies on employment discrimination, same-sex marriage, and same-sex adoption often emphasized. Some studies claim that contact with LGBT individuals can shift one’s perspective on government policies that provide equal protection for members of the LGBT community. However, the results of empirical research have largely been mixed. We argue that these mixed results are due to a combination of the distinct ideological orientations that influence individuals’ reactions to LGBT contact and the differing attitudinal valence individuals hold toward various LGBT issues, thus providing somewhat inconsistent effects of LGBT contact on the formation of related policy positions. We examine these conjectures by utilizing a recent national survey of 1,500 American adults, with our analytical results showing that LGBT contact moderates the effects of individuals’ political ideology on their formation of related policy preference in distinctive ways. Our analysis further demonstrates that such results hold nuanced differences depending on the specific topic of LGBT policy in consideration. Implications of our findings in regard to the role of contact theory in understanding policy preference formation, as well as to overall LGBT-oriented policy design, are discussed.

Lesbian, Gay, and Heterosexual Adoptive Parents’ Perceptions of Inclusivity and Receptiveness in Early Childhood Education Settings

ABSTRACTLittle research has examined the experiences of lesbian/gay (LG) parent families or adoptive parent families in early childhood education settings. This study uses interview data to examine the perceptions and experiences of 45 lesbian, gay, and heterosexual couples (90 individuals) with 10 adopted children with respect to their (1) openness with schools and teachers regarding their child’s adoptive status, racial background, and LG–parent family status and (2) perceptions of school inclusivity and responsiveness with respect to adoption, race, and family structure. The majority of parents explicitly disclosed their adoptive and LG–parent family status with teachers, but few discussed children’s racial background with teachers. Many parents viewed their children’s schools and teachers as explicitly inclusive of all types of families, providing specific examples of teacher practices that they appreciated. Some parents viewed schools as tolerant but not explicitly inclusive; reactions to this approach varied, with some parents appreciating not being “singled out,” and others feeling overlooked. Finally, some parents viewed schools as marginalizing toward their family’s adoptive, LG–parent family, and multiracial status. Lesbian mothers tended to report less positive impressions of schools than gay fathers. Findings have implications for schools and teachers seeking to create an inclusive environment for diverse families.

El tema de la diversidad sexual en la clase de ELE para niños: "El día de la rana roja"

La familia es el eje integrador y pilar fundamental en la educación del niño. En las últimas décadas, la familia nuclear tradicional ha dado paso a nuevas formas familiares, familias monoparentales, familias homosexuales o familias multiculturales, entre otras. ¿Por qué no mostrar esta realidad a los niños? ¿Por qué no aprender español como lengua extranjera a través de un texto literario? Con este propósito, utilizamos álbumes ilustrados. El poder de la palabra y la imagen que nos ofrecen ayuda al docente a enseñar no solo conocimientos puramente lingüísticos sino también emocionales. Para llevar a cabo esta necesaria e interesante tarea, hemos elegido <em>El día de la rana roja</em>, una historia donde dos príncipes enamorados adoptan a una niña huérfana. Cargada de simbolismos y de readaptaciones tradicionales, esta historia nos permite enseñar español como lengua extranjera a niños a través de unos mensajes llenos de positivismo, aceptación y celebración de las nuevas concepciones familiares. En conclusión, a través de un álbum ilustrado podemos diseñar una propuesta didáctica novedosa que muestre la diversidad familiar que impera en el siglo XXI, un siglo marcado por el diálogo entre culturas.

A Review and Critique of Research on Same-Sex Parenting and Adoption.

Are the outcomes for children of gay, lesbian, or bisexual parents in general the same as those for heterosexual parents? That controversial question is discussed here in a detailed review of the social science literature in three parts: (1) stability of same-sex parental relationships, (2) child outcomes, and (3) child outcomes in same-sex adoption. Relationship instability appears to be higher among gay and lesbian parent couples and may be a key mediating factor influencing outcomes for children. With respect to part 2, while parental self-reports usually present few significant differences, social desirability or self-presentation bias may be a confounding factor. While some researchers have tended to conclude that there are no differences whatsoever in terms of child outcomes as a function of parental sexual orientation, such conclusions appear premature in the light of more recent data in which some different outcomes have been observed in a few studies. Studies conducted within the past 10 years that compared child outcomes for children of same-sex and heterosexual adoptive parents were reviewed. Numerous methodological limitations were identified that make it very difficult to make an accurate assessment of the effect of parental sexual orientation across adoptive families. Because of sampling limitations, we still know very little about family functioning among same-sex adoptive families with low or moderate incomes, those with several children, or those with older children, including adolescents or how family functioning may change over time. There remains a need for high-quality research on same-sex families, especially families with gay fathers and with lower income.

Putting the brakes on prejudice rebound effects: An ironic effect of disparagement humor

ABSTRACTWhen people high in prejudice censor prejudice in one setting, they can experience a prejudice rebound effect—subsequently responding with more prejudice than otherwise. Disparagement humor fosters the release rather than suppression of prejudice. Thus, two experiments tested the hypothesis that exposure to disparagement humor attenuates rebound effects. Participants suppressed prejudice by writing fewer anti-gay thoughts about same-sex adoption (Experiment 1) or by reporting greater support for same-sex civil rights (Experiment 2) when expecting to share their responses with others (non-prejudice norm condition) but not if others first exchanged anti-gay jokes (prejudice norm condition). High-prejudice participants then exhibited prejudice rebound in the non-prejudice norm condition only. They rated a gay man more stereotypically (Experiment 1) and allocated greater budget cuts to a gay student organization (Experiment 2) in the non-prejudice norm condition.

Social Attitudes Toward Adoption by Same-Sex Couples in Europe.

By examining social attitudes on same-sex adoption in 28 European countries, we highlighted individual and country-level factors that can determine the level of social acceptance or rejection of this specific kind of adoption. This article contributes to the literature on social acceptance of lesbian women, gay men, and their adoption practices in Europe and directs attention to several previously under-researched aspects of social attitudes on same-sex parenting rights. The empirical base of this study was the fourth round of the European Values Study, conducted in 2008-2010. Using ordered logistic regressions, we examined the impact of several individual and country-level characteristics on the agreement level with the statement that "Homosexual couples should be able to adopt children." We found strong relationships between social attitudes towards adoption by same-sex couples and the existence of legislation permitting same-sex adoption practices at the country-level, as well as some individual attitudes, including those related to traditional family formation practices, "justification of homosexuality," and (non-) preference for homosexual neighbors. Our findings indicate a shift within the potential interpretational contexts of adoption by same-sex couples from a narrow sexuality-based framework to a different and possibly much wider context of family and parenting practices.

Functional Judgment of Young Mexican Heterosexuals’ Judgment towards Gay, Lesbian and Heterosexual Adoption

An information integration theory (IIT) study aimed to explore Mexican youngers’ systematic thinking underlying judgment and attitudes toward heterosexuals, gays and lesbian’s rights for adoption. Here, 126 heterosexuals were required to take a cognitive algebra study consisting of 36 experimental manipulated social scenarios, each describing different couple adoption situations. The participant’s experimental task was to provide an acceptability judgment by using a scale. Results showed, acceptability judgment varying from moderately favorable to not favorable that was regulated by two different cognitive rules. A cluster of participants having the higher index of acceptability showed systematic thinking moderated for a summative cognitive rule whereas judgment from another group of participants with a lower index of acceptability was moderated by a multiplicative cognitive rule. In both cases, the most relevant factor to consider was the couple romantic relationship stability. Theoretical and methodological implications are discussed in this article.

Opposing Abortion, Gay Adoption, Euthanasia, and Suicide

In secularized modern Western societies, moral opposition to the liberalization of abortion, gay adoption, euthanasia, and suicide often relies on justifications based on other-oriented motives (mainly, protection of the weak, e.g., children). Moreover, some argue that the truly open-minded people may be those who, against the stream, oppose the established dominant liberal values in modern societies. We investigated whether moral and religious opposition to, vs. the acceptance of, the above four issues, as well as the endorsement of respective con vs. pro arguments reflect (a) “compassionate openness” (prosocial, interpersonal, dispositions and existential flexibility), (b) “compassionate conservatism” (prosocial dispositions and collectivistic moral concerns), or (c) “self-centered moral rigorism” (collectivistic moral concerns, low existential quest, and low humility instead of prosocial dispositions). The results, to some extent, confirmed the third pattern. Thus, compassionate openness does not seem to underline modern moral opposition, possibly in contrast to some rhetoric of the latter.

Adolescents' Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Marriage and Adoption in France

Research on attitudes toward sexual minority rights has predominantly focused on adults within the United States. Adolescents' positions have been neglected, yet they will have a major influence on future policies for sexual minorities. To extend previous research, this study examined 405 French high school students' views toward same-sex marriage (SSM) and same-sex adoption (SSA), while testing factors (homophobia, social dominance orientation [SDO], empathic concern, and perspective taking) that could account for variability in these views. Results indicated that females were more supportive than males on SSM and SSA, and that both were more in favor of SSM than SSA. Controlling for age, gender, and socially desirable responding, mediation tests revealed that the effects of SDO and perspective taking on SSM and SSA positions were mediated through beliefs about lesbian and gay individuals, but not through feelings toward lesbian and gay individuals. Empathic concern did not account for SSM and SSA over and above these other factors. Implications for future research in this area are discussed.

Same-Sex Adoption as a Welfare Alternative? Conservatism, Neoliberal Values, and Support for Adoption by Same-Sex Couples

Despite conservatives’ long-term opposition to gay and lesbian parenting, scholars theorize that a strong commitment to neoliberalism may influence conservative Americans to become more tolerant of same-sex adoption as a way to relieve the government from subsidizing poor families. Drawing on national survey data (2010 Baylor Religion Survey), we test whether holding neoliberal values is associated with greater support for same-sex adoption in general and across political or religious conservatives. We find no support for either theory—emphatically the opposite, in fact. Neoliberal values are negatively associated with support for same-sex adoption for Americans in general and among political and religious conservatives. We find little evidence of a tension among conservatives regarding same-sex adoption as both their neoliberal values and moral beliefs incline them to oppose same-sex adoption along with other same-sex family relationships.

The Role of Secularism of State on the Relationship Between Catholic Identity, Political Orientation, and Gay Rights Issues

In discussions of regulations governing same-sex marriage and adoption by gays and lesbians, the issue of state secularism is often called into question. This study aims to test the mediating effects of state secularism on the relationship between Catholic identity, political orientation, and gay civil rights. Participants were Catholic Italians who completed a questionnaire measuring the constructs under investigation. Results showed that state secularism mediates the effects of Catholic identity and political orientation on attitudes toward same-sex marriage and adoption by gays and lesbians.

Le développement des enfants adoptés par des familles homoparentales : une revue de la littérature

AimData on the development of children raised in same-sex families have already been reviewed, but the specific situation of adoption has been little explored firstly because the possibility of same-sex adoption is legally recent, secondly because many previous studies have not taken into account the specificity of the different types of filiation. The aim of this work is to examine the characteristics and outcomes of currently available works on this topic. MethodWe have identified the studies on the development of adopted children in same-sex families; 14 studies (13 in the US and 1 the United Kingdom), which resulted in 18 articles published between 2003 and 2014, were submitted to analyze. ResultsThe data globally show a developmental homogeneity between children adopted by gay parents, lesbians or heterosexuals. Some differences focus on the characteristics of children and psychological resources of the parents as individuals and couples, regardless of the family structure based on the sexual orientation of the parents. ConclusionThese results confirm previous data on the development of children in gay and lesbian families because they confirm the observations made in other filiation contexts, and the methodologies of these recent studies have won into quality. The detailed results and the observation of the evolution of research models invite to consider these families as resources rather than a risky context.

Same-Sex Marriage in Japan

ABSTRACTDespite its apparent gay friendliness, Japanese society has witnessed few public debates or social movements in support of same-sex marriage. It seems that Japanese scholars and activists are only just beginning to advocate the legal protection of homosexual couples. Although Japan has witnessed a few recent developments toward same-sex marriage, an anti-same sex marriage perspective seems to dominate, even among Japanese scholars and activists who are gay and lesbian themselves.In order to understand Japans slow progress toward same-sex marriage, this article examines the legality of same-sex marriage in Japan, Japans apparent lack of the political and historical progress of same-sex marriage in the West, and Japanese societal and cultural features including gay adoption, invisibility and heterosexism at work and in academia. This article also compares the current debates on the legal protection of same-sex couples in Japan and Japanese feminist criticism of the Japanese family, to explain the prevalence of the anti-same sex marriage position. Further, with the notion of familial homophobia by Shulman (2009), the traditional Japanese family is defined as the grounds for homophobia. Lastly, the possibility of legalizing same-sex marriage in Japan is discussed.

Producción de evidencia psicológica en el debate jurídico sobre adopción gay en Colombia

La historia de la psicología puede situarse en escenarios aparentemente ajenos al campo. Con el propósito de comprender el desarrollo de la psicología fuera del laboratorio y de los grandes personajes, el presente trabajo estudia los medios por los cuales la producción de conocimiento psicológico se ensambla a la sociedad. Se analiza la producción discursiva de expertos en psicología que participaron durante el 2009 en el debate jurídico sobre adopción gay en Colombia, describiendo la manera en la que la evidencia psicológica es articulada al ámbito jurídico. Se encuentra que la Corte Constitucional configura un escenario que privilegia y promueve la producción de conocimiento psicológico y que los expertos construyen versiones sobre el orden social a través de la evidencia.

Same-sex marriage and same-sex adoption: Socio-political context of the rights of gay and lesbian people in Belgium

Belgium is considered as being in the forefront of a number of rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT). In the 1990s, the law on legal cohabitation made it possible for same-sex couples to draw up cohabitation contracts. Belgium then became the second country in Europe to authorise marriage between same-sex partners in 2003, as well as opening up access to parenthood in 2006. The aim of this paper is to describe the changes that have taken place in Belgian legislation from traditional family law through to the opening up of marriage and parenthood to same-sex couples, analysing the arguments which have been put forward in support and against it, as well as the potential rationale behind shared agendas. It will also describe the emergence of the LGBT movement in Belgium, the various non-governmental organisations that are active in the country and the role they play. An overview of current events will be presented (changes in the number of marriages, divorces and adoptions in Belgium). Finally, the paper will discuss the issues concerning social acceptance of same-sex couples and families, and the challenges that LGBT people living in Belgium still have to face.

Adoção homoparental e preconceito: crenças de estudantes de direito e serviço social

Attorneys and social workers are key actors in implementing new practices for gay adoption, however, it seems to exist a lack of training on human development and sexuality during the decision-making process. The aim of this study is to investigate the belief of law and social worker students on sexual orientation and homoparental adoption. The study included 132 students, 67 (49.2%) enrolled in Social Service major and 65 (50.8%) in law, all from a public university, with mean age of 25 years (SD = 5.51). Two scales were used (beliefs about homosexuality and homoparental adoption belief), moreover, it was asked about the contact and information about homosexuality. In general, social work students had