Adoption by homosexual couples possible?
In Germany homosexual couples still have limited adoption rights. It is therefore not possible for homosexual couples to jointly adopt another child. Here you can find out more about the legal situation in Germany and the public discussion of the topic.
In other countries, people are already much further along. For example, in several states of Australia and even in the conservative USA, gay or lesbian couples are allowed to adopt a stranger’s child together without any problems. In Europe, community adoption is legal in Belgium, Denmark, Great Britain, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and even arch-Catholic Spain. In Germany, on the other hand, things are made difficult for same-sex couples.
Adoption by homosexual couples in Germany
Since 2001, there has been a civil partnership law for homosexual couples in Germany, which enables them to enter into a marriage-like community even before the law. Only since 2005 has the couple had the option of adopting a stepchild; homosexual couples are still unable to adopt children from other people. As with heterosexual couples, stepchild adoption is the most common form of adoption.
The adopter is married to one of the parents of the adopted child or lives in a partnership. The other biological parent of the child must consent to such an adoption. The adoption is finally pronounced, even if the youth welfare office raises no objections. From the age of 14, the consent of the child at the notary is also required. If there are other children of the step-parent, they will be asked about adoption. So if one of the partners from a previous relationship brings a biological child into the new civil partnership or if this child is born within this new relationship, the other partner has the right to adopt this “stepchild”.
In Germany, as in many other countries, children are increasingly growing up in same-sex partnerships. In most cases, these are biological children from previous heterosexual partnerships. In some cases, however, foreign children also grow up in a same-sex partnership. One partner may have adopted a child alone, or foster children may live with a homosexual couple.
Adoption by homosexual couples: Controversial discussions
Despite the positive effect of increasing social acceptance of homosexual partnerships, adoption by same-sex couples remains a topic of controversial discussion. From conservative circles, the question arises again and again whether life in such a family serves the well-being of the child and whether the lack of paternal or maternal influence disturbs the child’s development. However, the latter is not the sole problem of homosexual parenthood, but also applies to the situation of single fathers or mothers. The ability to raise a child should not be attributed to sexual orientation.
Gay couples take their role as parents very seriously
Due to the changed social conditions, numerous children are now growing up in same-sex partnerships. Many men or women only discover after the birth of their child that their sexual preference is for the same sex, separate from the partner of the opposite sex and enter into a same-sex partnership. They almost always take their children with them. Critics of same-sex couples’ adoption rights believe same-sex couples lack the ability to raise a child competently. It has been shown that children who grow up with same-sex partners do not automatically develop homosexual tendencies themselves. In most cases, they simply develop a greater tolerance when it comes to homosexuality.