ADOPTION AND PARENTING

There have always been gay and lesbian parents. Only in recent years, however, has gay parenting been a hot issue. Of course, this has given those who oppose equality another issue that they can use to divide people while ignoring the facts.

Equality Alabama knows that LGBT people are perfectly capable of providing loving homes to children, and that children raised in these homes do just as well as other children; that there is no effect on their self esteem, their gender identity or their emotional health, according to evidence based, peer reviewed research.

Equality Alabama wants to educate the citizens of Alabama about our families to help insure that our families are not marginalized. We want to prevent laws from being passed that would break up families.

Parenting begins either by natural childbirth or adoption and fostering. Each of these situations presents challenges for LGBT parents.

Gay parents who have produced children through opposite sexual relationships, either within or outside of marriage, may have problems after a divorce or separation with custody and visitation issues. These decisions are often based on inaccurate generalizations about the LGBT community.

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals may also foster or adopt children, including a potential parent who may want to adopt the child of his or her same sex partner.

Equality Alabama is aware that there are currently no laws to protect adoption by the gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender community. A bill to ban adoption has been introduced in the state legislature in the past, and we anticipate an attempt to introduce another adoption bill during the upcoming legislative session.

Equality Alabama is gathering resources to use for education on this issue. Watch this page for the addition of links where information related to parenting and adoption can be found.

In addition, Equality Alabama is forming a database of adoptive and natural parents and families that would be willing to work with us on these issues, including going to Montgomery and speaking with legislators when needed. We also want to compile a collection of stories of LGBT families with children.

We want to hear the challenges you faced, and how you dealt with or overcame these challenges.

Some of these stories will be made public, in the form of a brochure or booklet or web page, so keep that in mind as you are writing them. You can also submit stories that will not be made public, please indicate so when you send your material.

If you are interested in being part of either of these efforts, please email Joe Openshaw.

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Equality Alabama, PO Box 13733, Birmingham, Alabama 35202

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