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ABSTRACT
Increasing numbers of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, and queer (LGBTQ) people are choosing to parent through adoption. The minimal research available, focused particularly on lesbian and gay adoptive parents, suggests they face significant barriers to adoption (including being held to a higher standard than heterosexual adoptive parents), homophobia from child welfare professionals, and limited social support post-adoption. These issues have significant implications for the mental health of LGBTQ adoptive parents, but have not been researched to date. Seven interviews were conducted with Canadian lesbian and queer adoptive parents to examine the mental health impact of adoption and identify barriers to accessing health and social services. Adoptive parents described multiple challenges related to the adoption process and becoming a parent. Further research is needed to identify the long-term mental health effects of the stress of the adoption process on lesbian and queer parents, and their need for support services.
KEY WORDS
Lesbian,
adoption, mental
health, adoptive
parents, sociology
Received 19 March 2008
Accepted 27 May 2008
Background
As social attitudes and policies related to sexual orientation become more progressive, increasing numbers of Canadian lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, and queer (LGBTQ)1 people are choosing to parent in the context of same-sex relationships, or as 'out' individuals or couples. LGBTQ people take a variety of pathways to form families, including donor insemination, coparenting with another LGBTQ individual or couple, surrogacy, and adoption (Epstein 2003:83).
This project arose in response to feedback from members of LGBTQ communities who suggested that we broaden an existing research study focused on donor conception to include the experiences of adoptive parents. The two principal researchers for this project are an academic in the field of women's mental health (LR) and a service provider/educator/community researcher who works with, and on behalf of, LGBTQ parents (RE). Both are parents, and identify as queer and white. Though neither of us has completed an adoption, our professional and activist work has brought us in contact with many LGBTQ people who have been through the adoption process, and with adoption workers, literature and conferences. For example, for ten years, RE has been teaching Dykes Planning Tykes, a 12-week course for lesbian/bisexual/queer women considering parenthood. The course includes information on the adoption process and storytelling...