| Adoption by same-sex couples is legal in | | | | regardless of sexual orientation. |
| Guam, Andorra, Belgium, the Netherlands, | | | | Critics of such restrictive policies |
| Sweden, South Africa, Spain, the United | | | | also point out that in many of the |
| Kingdom and some parts of Canada and the | | | | states that have bans on second-parent |
| U.S., Denmark, Germany, Iceland, and | | | | adoption by same-sex couples, these same |
| Norway allow "stepchild-adoption" so | | | | couples are still able to act as foster |
| that the partner in a civil union can | | | | parents. |
| adopt the natural (or sometimes even | | | | In Canada, adoption is within provincial |
| adopted) child of his or her partner. In | | | | territorial jurisdiction, and thus the |
| the Republic of Ireland and some other | | | | law differs from one province or |
| countries, individual persons, whether | | | | territory to another. Adoption by |
| heterosexual/homosexual, cohabiting | | | | same-sex couples is legal in British |
| single may apply for adoption. | | | | Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and |
| In February 2006, France's Court of | | | | Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, |
| Cassation ruled that both partners in a | | | | Saskatchewan, and the Northwest |
| same-sex relationship can have parental | | | | Territories. In Alberta, stepchild |
| rights over one partner's biological | | | | adoption is allowed. Adoption by |
| child. The result came from a case where | | | | same-sex couples is illegal in New |
| a woman tried to give parental rights of | | | | Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and |
| her two daughters to her partner whom | | | | Nunavut. In the Yukon, the law regarding |
| she was in a civil union with. | | | | adoption is ambiguous. NDP MP Libby |
| On June 2, 2006 the Icelandic Parliament | | | | Davies, who is in a same-sex |
| voted for a proposal accepting adoption, | | | | relationship, has campaigned for |
| parenting and assisted insemination | | | | national uniformity when it comes to |
| treatment for same-sex couples on the | | | | same-sex adoption. |
| same basis as heterosexual couples. No | | | | In Australia, same-sex adoption is legal |
| member of the parliament voted against | | | | in the Australian Capital Territory and |
| the proposal. The law went into effect | | | | Western Australia, while stepchild |
| on June 27, 2006. | | | | adoption is possible in Tasmania. |
| Within the United States, Gay people | | | | In New Zealand, preliminary New Zealand |
| have the right to adopt in every state. | | | | Law Commission Reports and white papers |
| California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, | | | | have raised the issue already, while |
| New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, | | | | Metiria Turei, a Green Party of New |
| Vermont, Washington State and | | | | Zealand List MP raised the issue in late |
| Washington, D.C. explicitly allow | | | | May 2006. In February 2005, the Greens |
| second-parent adoption by same-sex | | | | had suggested that an adoption law |
| couples statewide, either by statute or | | | | reform clause should be added to the |
| court ruling. Courts in many other | | | | Relationships (Statutory References) Act |
| states have also granted second-parent | | | | 2005, which equalised heterosexual, |
| adoptions to same-sex couples, though | | | | lesbian and gay spousal status in New |
| there is no statewide law or court | | | | Zealand law and regulatory policy, apart |
| decision that guarantees this. In fact, | | | | from the Adoption Act 1955. While the |
| courts within the same state but in | | | | measure was unsuccessful, it remains to |
| different jurisdictions often contradict | | | | be seen whether a reintroduced adoption |
| each other in practice. Single parent | | | | law reform bill on its own would fare |
| adoption by LGBT individuals is legal in | | | | differently. |
| every state except Florida. This makes | | | | A January 2005 ruling of the Israeli |
| it possible for same-sex couples to | | | | Supreme Court allowed step-child |
| "adopt," in jurisdictions where | | | | adoptions for same-sex couples. Israel |
| second-parent adoptions are not | | | | previously allowed limited |
| permitted, though only one individual is | | | | co-guardianship rights for |
| legally recognized as the parent. The | | | | non-biological parents. |
| exception to this is Utah which | | | | In 2007 UK Catholic adoption agencies |
| prohibits adoption by "a person who is | | | | which make up around a third of the |
| cohabiting in a relationship that is not | | | | voluntary sector have said they will |
| a legally valid and binding marriage," | | | | shut if forced to comply with new |
| [4] making it legal for single people to | | | | government legislation requiring them to |
| adopt, but illegal for two non-married | | | | enlist gay couples as potential adoptive |
| people living together to do so, | | | | parents. |