Pride: Map shows where LGBT adoption is still illegal
LGBT+ couples around the world continue to face discrimination when it comes to starting a family, despite millions of children living in orphanages.
According to a new analysis, only 25% of the 247 countries surveyed have legalized adoption for LGBTQ+ people.
Three quarters (75%) do not allow queer couples to adopt together and 13% said it was totally illegal. Less than half allow single adoption.
Most recently, this was legalized in Chile, Switzerland and Croatia last year and Costa Rica in 2020, but more work is needed to achieve full equality with straight parents.
Countries where it is still banned include Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, China and Morocco.
It has been 20 years since the Adoption and Children Act came into force in the UK in 2002.
Adoption by LGBT+ couples has increased year on year for the past nine years and has only declined in 2021, most likely due to the pandemic.
According to data from the Department of Education for Adoption in England, one in five or 520 adopters identified as queer in the past year – an increase from just 6% in 2013.
Jo-Ann Swanston-King, Adoptions Manager at Barnardo’s, told The Edit that recruiting potential adopters aims to reach a “more diverse spectrum including LGBT+ people”.
“In England it is against the law to refuse someone an application to register their interest in adoption because of their sexuality,” she said.
“There are some agencies that have more experience recruiting, training and approving LGBT+ adopters.
“So if you’re interested in adopting as an LGBT+ person, it’s important that you find an agency that you think is right to support you on your adoption journey.”
Ms. Swanston-King explained that the assessment process is the same for straight and queer couples and singles and should take around six months.
Since 2003 it has been carried out in two stages.
Stage one involves the agency performing legal checks and referencing and preparation by the prospective adopter. Phase two is the assessment process and should take approximately four months.
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https://metro.co.uk/2022/06/14/pride-map-reveals-where-lgbt-adoption-is-still-illegal-16825670/ Pride: Map shows where LGBT adoption is still illegal