Gay and Lesbian Adoptions: A Theoretical Examination of Policy-Making and Organizational Decision Making

Most of the inquiry into gay and lesbian adoptions has focused on the rights of this population toadopt, the constitutional issues surrounding gay and lesbian parenting, and the outcomes of children raised by homosexual parents. There has been scant focus at the policy-making or organizational level on this issue. Why have public adoption agencies failed to provide either regulation or written policy on the topic of adoption of children by gays and lesbians? This article pursues a theoretical examination of policy-making and organizational decision making to explore this issue. Additionally, a survey was distributed to adoption officials in each of thefifty (50) states requesting information about the placement of children in adoptive homes of lesbian and gay adults. This examination, coupled with a survey of the child welfare agencies, provides the framework for this analysis. The results of this survey and the policy implications are discussed