In addition, in some states it is difficult for a lesbian or gay person or couple to find an agency that will work with them.

On the other hand, gay men and lesbians all over the country do adopt children, and an increasing number of states are allowing gay and lesbian couples to adopt jointly. However, lesbians and gay men will need an experienced attorney to handle an adoption. Do your homework: The National Center for Lesbian Rights at http://www.nclrights.org provides information for gay men and lesbians who want to adopt.

Single People

As a single person you may have to wait longer for a placement or be flexible about the child you adopt. Agencies often "reserve" healthy infants and younger children for two-parent families, putting single people at the bottom of their waiting lists. And birth parents themselves often want their children to be placed in a two-parent home.

If you're a single person wishing to adopt, you should be prepared to make a good case for your fitness as a parent. You can expect case workers to ask why you haven't married, how you plan to support and care for the child on your own, what will happen if you do marry, and other questions that will put you in the position of defending your status as a single person. To many single adoptive parents such rigorous screening doesn't seem fair, but it is commonplace.

Agencies serving children with special needs may be a good option for singles, because they often cast a wider net when considering adoptive parents. Being flexible about your choices will make it easier to overcome the resistance to single-parent adoptions.

Domestic Partners

There is no specific prohibition against unmarried couples' adopting children (sometimes called a two-parent adoption). Like singles, however, you may find that agencies are biased towards married couples. You may have a longer wait for a child, or you may have to expand your ideas about the child you are willing to adopt.