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Open Adoption Magazine, Spring 2011, Available for Download
Download the full version here. Recent events in Japan have reminded me of the importance of staying connected with friends and family. Myself and a few other IAC staff members have special connections with people in Japan whose lives have been heavily affected by these occurrences. How fortunate we are to have resources like the [...]
Posted in Open Adoption Magazine
Tagged adoption networking, birthmothers, open adoption, Open Adoption Magazine
2 Comments
Obama Administration Ends Defense of Anti-LGBT Marriage Law
The Obama Administration decided to discontinue defending the federal gay marriage law that denies married lesbians and gay men the same rights as those accorded to heterosexual married couples. According to the today’s New York Times, “Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. sent a letter to Congress on Wednesday saying that the Justice Department will [...]
Posted in Adoption News
Tagged adoption rights, gay adoption, legal issues in adoption, lesbian adoption
1 Comment
Son of Lesbian Mothers Speaks Out Against Iowa’s Legislation to Ban Gay Marriage
Please take 3 minutes to watch this video. A 19-year old man, Zach Wahls, who was raised by lesbian mothers, speaks in defense of same sex marriage. But the most compelling argument he makes is that children raised by lesbian mothers have excellent outcomes. He is a prime example of what the research has already [...]
North Carolina Supreme Court Voids Second Parent Adoptions
Today the North Carolina Supreme Court voided second-parent adoptions in the state. This ruling affects all second parent adoptions in the state, but has the biggest impact on same-sex couples. The Supreme Court indicated that they believe second parent adoption is an issue that the legislature needs to address because current North Carolina state law [...]
Posted in Uncategorized
4 Comments
Gay and Lesbian Parents Raise Well-Adjusted Children: IAC Families Participate in Groundbreaking Study
Researchers at the University of Virginia and George Washington University published the results of a study showing that the adjustment of adopted children of Lesbians and Gay males is not only on par, but slightly better, than for children of Heterosexual parents. Five adoption agencies, including the IAC, recruited families to participate in the study. [...]
Posted in LGBT Adoption
Tagged adoption myths, adoption research, gay adoption, lesbian adoption
4 Comments
Should I work with An Agency or an Attorney?
As you consider adoption you may be overwhelmed by the options available and have no idea how to choose. The most basic question is: should you work with an agency or an adoption attorney and how should you decide? Although I run an adoption agency, I do not think that agencies are superior to attorneys. [...]
Wait Times for Adoptive Placements in LGBT Families
People often assume that LGBT families wait longer for an adoption placement than Heterosexual families. This is not true. At IAC, LGBT families have the same or shorter wait times. It is important, however, for LGBT families to work with agencies that do not discriminate or use unintentionally biased practices. For example, some agencies ask [...]
LGBT Adoption Legal in Florida
On Oct. 12, 2010, Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) announced they would not appeal the court ruling that the prohibition on LGBT family adoption is unconstitutional. Sexual orientation will no longer be a factor in Florida adoptions. All of the Florida’s adoption-related forms now exclude any reference to sexual orientation. This law prevented [...]
Posted in Adoption News, LGBT Adoption
Tagged Florida adoption, gay adoption, legal issues in adoption, lesbian adoption
14 Comments
Florida Appeals Court Confirms Ban on Gay and Lesbian Adoption Unconstitutional
Today a Florida Appeals Court upheld a lower court’s decision that banning Gay and Lesbians from adopting was unconstitutional stating, “there is no rational basis for the statute.” The decision is likely to be appealed to Florida’s Supreme Court. The court noted considerable research showing that Gay men and Lesbians are as fit parents as [...]
Understanding the Adoption Home Study Process
An adoption home study is a required part of any adoption process in the United States. The single exception to this is an attorney adoption in Georgia, though this may change in the near future. Although every state has slightly different requirements for a home study, the overall purpose is the same. A home study [...]