What does a family look like? For a long time, that image was a mother and father of opposite genders. That stereotype is changing as more LGBTQ couples choose adoption as one way to have a family of their own. Adoption Makes Family is proud to serve the LGBTQ community and facilitate meaningful connections between adoptive parents and birth parents. Our primary goal is to create a loving, welcoming home for the baby regardless of who the parents might be.
A Growing Trend
Same sex couples can legally adopt a child in most states, including Maryland. According to the ACLU, at least 6 million children in the U.S. live with at least one gay or lesbian parent, and nearly half of all adoption agencies in the country have facilitated an adoption to a same sex couple. Research shows that the sexual orientation of the parents does not have any impact on their children — biological or adopted. A child raised by LGBTQ parents is just as likely to be gay or straight as a child raised in a “traditional” male/female parent household.
In addition, there is no evidence to suggest that the children of gay parents are less intelligent, suffer from more problems, are less popular, or have lower self-esteem than children raised in heterosexual households. In other words, the children of LGBTQ parents grow up as happy, healthy, and well-adjusted as the children of heterosexual parents. Couple this data with a great need for adoptive families across the country and you have many opportunities to start new families through adoption. We look forward to serving this community as it continues to expand throughout Maryland and beyond.
Making an Adoption Happen
If you and your partner are considering adoption, contact Adoption Makes Family to discuss your options with our caring, sensitive team. We are prepared to meet your adoption needs in a personal, compassionate and professional manner. We will guide you through the adoption application and home study, and then help you craft a letter and photo album that can be shared with birth mothers. This letter is an opportunity for you to describe your family and your desire to add a baby to it.
At the same time, we are working to educate birth families on LGBTQ adoptions. This allows them to make the most informed decision possible about their baby’s future and choose an adoptive family in the most open way possible. Our team is available to answer your questions and provide counseling services at every step along the way.
Lasting Connections
The decision of who adopts a baby is entirely up to the birth parents. We honor their preferences and provide the counseling services necessary to help a birth family choose an adoptive family that they feel is a good fit for their baby. Adoption Makes Family makes all options available to birth parents and does not discriminate in any way. Our tagline is “From One Heart to Another” and we believe that those hearts can come in many forms. If the birth parents choose to engage in a relationship with the adoptive parents, we can facilitate those meetings and make sure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
Love does not discriminate, and neither do we. We strive to be as inclusive as possible and encourage adoption for everyone. Contact us to learn more about our services for LGBTQ parents and take the first steps toward adding a child to your family.