LGBTQIA+ Adoption FAQ with Adoption Choices of Florida

If you’re pregnant in Florida and considering placing your baby for adoption, Adoption Choices of Florida is a great choice! And for Pride Month, we want to ask you to consider placing your baby with a non-heteronormative family. Families come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and your baby will have a diverse and loving upbringing no matter where they’re placed. We’ve always been proud to work with LGBTQIA+ families and enable them to grow. Read our FAQs to learn more.

Can same-sex couples adopt in Florida?

They can! It used to be banned, but the ban was ruled unconstitutional in 2010 and fully repealed in 2015. It’s completely legal. We highly recommend that you consider choosing an LGBTQIA+ family to adopt your baby, or at least don’t discount them. 

Is the process different?

At Adoption Choices of Florida, it’s more or less the same process as it is for hetero couples. The main difference is that for couples who live outside of Florida, there may be additional legal hurdles to overcome, unfortunately. The Florida adoption process for LGBTQIA+ couples starts with a home study where a social worker will visit them at their home for an interview and to assess whether the home is child-friendly. Then the couple creates an adoption profile where they provide information about themselves for you, the birth mother. Once there’s a match, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with them if you chose an open or semi-open Florida adoption plan. You’re not obligated to meet the adoptive family if you prefer not to, but many women find it helps set their minds at ease. After matching begins pre-placement when the adoptive family will receive updates about your health and that of the baby. If you’re interested in having a relationship with the adoption family, this is a great time to get to know them and deliver updates directly! When it’s time for the birth, you’ll have 48 hours to sign the relinquishment papers, and the adoptive family will leave the hospital with the baby. After that, it’s up to you how involved you might want to be, and if you need counseling or other assistance, you’re welcome to call us even years later because we’re always here! 

How do I choose?

We recommend choosing a family based on shared values and the kind of life you want them to provide for your baby. While there is still sadly a lingering stigma against rainbow families, the truth is that they are not that different from any other family. The most important thing for you to consider is whether they will love and cherish your baby, and if you’re working with us, you know we will never place your baby with a family that wouldn’t.

Are there specific benefits?

One of the wonderful things about choosing to place your baby with an LGBTQIA+ family is that your baby is more likely to grow up open-minded. Children are highly adaptable and learn from their environment, so a child who grows up in a diverse home will have a much broader view of the world, leading them to exciting and wonderful things throughout their lives. The other upside is that LGBTQIA+ couples tend to wait until they’re financially stable to adopt, which means that your child will grow up very comfortable and wanting for nothing.

What are the downsides?

The only real downside to choosing an LGBTQIA+family to adopt your baby is outside influences. Unfortunately, the world is still very homophobic, transphobic, and just outright unfriendly to people who are LGBTQIA+, which means that your child may experience that to some degree. It can be painful for a child to grow up knowing that people in their community hate their parents because of who they love. Children are often very perceptive and can pick up on disapproval and other negative feelings from adults, especially if they are very sensitive. However, the world IS changing little by little, and we don’t want this to deter you from expanding your list of potential adoptive families. Your child will experience negativity in some form or other, especially if they turn out to be LGBTQIA+ or of color. Regardless of what they may experience belonging to a rainbow family, the benefits far outweigh the downsides.

Interested in LGBTQIA+ adoption? Give us a call!

While LGBTQIA+ rights have a long way to become fully codified and protected, we still see progress. Adoption Choices of Florida firmly believes in enabling every family to grow, which is why we urge folks like you to consider placing your baby with a beautiful rainbow family. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re always happy to help!

If you are a pregnant woman in Florida considering adoption and have any questions or concerns about the adoption process, please don’t hesitate to reach out. For more information on adoption, visit us at Adoption Choices of Florida or call us at: (833) 352-3678