Latino Gay or Lesbians Adopt Children at Highest Rate

The New York's National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute and National Latino/a Coalition have found that when it comes to adopting kids Latino Gay/Lesbians couples adopt at a highest rate when compared to other ethnic gay couples.

More specifically, the statistics shows that:

*The rate of Hispanic gay male couples (both partners male and Hispanics) raising children is almost 3 times higher (58%) than gay male couples where both partners are non-Hispanics white (19%)

*The rate of Hispanic female lesbians couples (both partners female and Hispanics) raising children is more than twice (66 %) than that of female lesbian couples where both partners are non-Hispanics white (32%)

*Hispanic female lesbian couples report raising (54%) at least one kid when compared to heterosexual Hispanic married couples (70%) and Hispanic non-married (but living together) heterosexual couples (59%).

One of the Latino cultural values that the Hispanic communities have and that may help to explain the higher rate of adoption among Latino gay and lesbian couples is the family cultural value. Experts believe that the family value is the most cherished cultural value within the Latino ethnic group. So, one way to continue at keeping the family as a central core value in Latino Gay and Lesbian couples is by adopting and raising children.

Research has shown that when it comes to adoptive children gender roles or family stereotypes are not important. What really matters is family stability, nurturing and love. This is where Latino Gay and Lesbians couple rate high.

Psychological research has revealed that gay and lesbian couples can be better parents than some straight couples because: same-sex parents often use softer communication of feelings during conflictive situations, and same-sex parents usually have more nurturing behaviors toward their children.

On a recent study, titled "Adoption and Foster Care by Lesbian and Gay Parents in the United States," it has been shown that 52% of gay and 41% of lesbian are considering adopting a kid (straight men 33%). Also, lesbian and gay couples or parents are raising right now more than 60,000 kids. In addition, same-sex couples are often more formally educated and have more economic resources than straight couples.

While there is an ongoing debate about several issues regarding homosexuality, the fact is that more and more lesbians and gay men are becoming parents (and raising kids) in the United States. The key issue in this case is family values and the health of the adoptive children.

Sources:

Gary Gates, Lee M.V. Badgett, Jennifer Ehrle Macomber, Kate Chambers. Adoption and Foster Care by Lesbian and Gay Parents in the United. The Urban Institute. States. URL:http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/411437_Adoption_Foster_Care.pdf

Grupos familiars de parejas Hispanas y Latinas del mismo sexo en los Estados Unidos. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

URL: http://www.thetaskforce.org/downloads/reports/reports/GruposFamiliares.pdf