Adoption for Gay and Lesbian Families
Under Wisconsin law, gay couples cannot adopt. However, if you
are part of a “partnership,” one of you can apply to adopt as a
single parent. Many agencies have their own policies as to whether they will
accept gay applicants or not. Please call the Wisconsin Adoption Information
Center for a list of agencies that are willing to work with gay couples and
singles. Please see our article on single parent adoptions for more information
on the adoption process for single applicants.
Below is a list of resources for professionals and parents
on gay and lesbian adoptive parenting. This list is provided courtesy of the Child
Welfare Information Gateway. You can access their website at www.childwelfare.gov.
Organizations
Adopt A Special Kid (AASK)
7700 Edgewater Drive, Suite 125
Oakland, CA 94621
(510) 553-1748 ext. 12
E-mail: andrea@adoptaspecialkid.org
Web site: www.adoptaspecialkid.org
American Civil Liberties Union - Lesbian and Gay Rights
Project
125 Broad Street
New York, NY 10004
(212) 549-2627
E-mail: LGRPACLU@aol.com
Web site: www.aclu.org
Child Welfare League of America
440 First Street NW, Third Floor
Washington, DC 20001-2085
(202) 638-2952
Fax: (202) 638-4004
E-mail: info@cwla.org
Web site: www.cwla.org
Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere - COLAGE
3543 18th Street #17
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 861-5437
E-mail: colage@colage.org
Web site: www.colage.org
Custody Action for Lesbian Mothers - CALM, Inc.
PO Box 281
Narbeth, PA 19072
(215) 667-7508
Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation - GLAAD
1825 Connecticut Ave NW, 5th Floor
Washington, DC 20009
(800) GAY-MEDIA
E-mail: glaad@glaad.org
Web site: www.glaad.org
Gay Fathers Coalition
PO Box 19891
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 583-8029
Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network - GLSEN
121 West 27th Street, Suite 804
New York, NY 10001
(212) 727-0135
Fax: (212) 727-0254
E-mail: glsen@glsen.org
Web site: www.glsen.org
The International Lesbian and Gay Association
ILGA Administrative Office
81 Kolenmarkt
B 1000, Brussels, Belgium
+32-2-5022471
E-mail: ilga@ilga.org
Web site: www.ilga.org
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
120 Wall Street, Suite 1500
New York, NY 10005-3904
(212) 809-8585
Fax: (212) 809-0055
E-mail: lambda@lambdalegal.org
Web site: www.lambdalegal.org
Lavender Families Resource Network
PO Box 21567
Seattle, WA 98111
(206) 325-2643
Lesbian Mothers Support Society
PO Box 61
Station M
Calgary, Alberta
Canada T2P2G9
(403) 265-6433
E-mail: highs@cadivision.com
National Center for Lesbian Rights
870 Market Street, Suite 570
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 392-6257
Fax: (415) 392-8442
E-mail: info@nclrights.org
Web site: www.nclrights.org
!OutProud! The National Coalition for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual &
Transgender Youth
369 Third Street, Suite B-362
San Rafael, CA 94901-3581
E-mail: info@outproud.org
Web site: www.outproud.org
Parents, Families, Friends of Lesbians and Gays - PFLAG
1101 14th Street NW, Suite 1030
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 638-4200
Fax: (202) 638-0243
E-mail: info@pflag.org
Web site: www.pflag.org
Partners Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Couples
Box 9685
Seattle, WA 98109-0685
(206) 935-1206
E-mail: demian@buddybuddy.com
Web site: www.buddybuddy.com
Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL)
410 Seventh Street SE
Washington, DC 20003-2707
(202) 546-5940
Fax: (202) 544-1306
E-mail: smyal@aol.com
Web site: www.smyal.com
Online Publications
Gay Parent Magazine Online
PO Box 750852
Forest Hills, NY 11375-0852
(718) 793-6641
E-mail: gayparentmag@banet.net
Web site: www.gayparentmag.com
Reading Lists
Children's Books for Gay and Lesbian Parented Families
Bosche, S. (1981). Jenny Lives with Eric and Martin. London, England:
Gay Men's Press.
Dahl, J. (1989). River of Promise. San Diego, CA: Luramedia.
Elwin, R., Paulse, M. (1990). Asha's Mums. Toronto, Canada: Women’s
Press.
Heron, A., Meredith, M. (1991). How Would You Feel If Your Dad Was Gay?
Boston, MA: Alyson Publications.
Newman, L. (1989). Heather Has Two Mommies. Boston, MA: Alyson Publications.
Newman, L. (1991). Gloria Goes to Gay Pride. Boston, MA: Alyson Publications.
Newman, L. (1993). Saturday Is Pattyday. Boston, MA: Alyson Publications.
Schaffer, P. (1988). How Babies and Families Are Made: There Is More Than
One Way. Berkeley, CA: Tabor Sarah Books.
Willhoite, M. (1990). Daddy's Roommate. Boston, MA: Alyson Publications.
Willhoite, M. (1991). Families: A Coloring Book. Boston, MA: Alyson
Publications.
Willhoite, M. (1993). Uncle What-Is-It Is Coming To Visit. Boston,
MA: Alyson Publications.
Bibliography of Books for Gay and Lesbian Parents
Barrett, R. L., Robinson, B. E. (1990). Gay Fathers. Lexington, MA:
Lexington Books.
Benkov, L. (1994). Reinventing the Family: Lesbian and Gay Parents. New
York, NY: Crown Publishing.
Berzon, B. (1988). Permanent Partners: Building Gay and Lesbian Relationships.
New York, NY: Penguin Books.
Bozett, F. (1987). Gay and Lesbian Parents. New York,
NY: Praeger.
Burke, P. (1993). Family Values: Two Moms and their Son. New York,
NY: Random House.
Clunis, Dr. Merilee. (1995). Lesbian Parenting Book. Washington: Seal
Press.
Corley, R. (1990). The Final Closet: The Gay Parents' Guide for Coming
Out to Their Children. Miami, FL: Editech.
Curry, H., Clifford, D. (1991). A Legal Guide for Lesbian and Gay Couples.
Berkeley, CA: Nolo Press.
Gantz, J. (1983). Whose Child Cries. Rollings Hills Estates, CA: JALMAR.
Gil De Lamadrid, M. (1991). Lesbians Choosing Motherhood: Legal Implications
of Donor Insemination and Co-parenting. San Francisco, CA: National Center
for Lesbian Rights.
Hanscombe, G. E., Forster, J. (1987). Rocking the Cradle. Boston,
MA:Alyson Publications.
Hicks, Stephen. (1998). Lesbian and Gay Fostering and Adoption. London:
Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Hidalgo, H., Peterson, T.L., Woodman, N.J. (1985). Lesbian and Gay Issues:
A Resource Manual for Social Workers. Silver Spring, MD: NASW.
Johnson, S. (1990). Staying Power: Longterm Lesbian Couples. Tallahassee,
FL: NAIAD.
Lewin, E. (1993). Lesbian Mothers. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University
Press.
Macpike, L. (1989). There's Something I've Been Meaning to Tell You.
Tallahassee, FL: NAIAD.
Martin, April. (1993). The Lesbian and Gay Parenting Handbook. New
York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.
McGarry, Kevin. (2003). Fatherhood for Gay Men. Arlington, VA: Haworth
Press.
Morgen, K. B. (1995). Getting Simon: Two Gay Doctors' Journey to Fatherhood.
New York, NY: Bramble Books.
Pies, C. (1985). Considering Parenthood: A Workbook for Lesbians.
San Francisco, CA: Spinsters/Aunt Lute.
Pollack, Jill. (1995). Lesbian and Gay Families. London: Franklin
Watts.
Pollack, S., Vaughn, J. (1987). Politics of the Heart: A Lesbian Parenting
Anthology. Ithaca, NY: Firebrand Books.
Rafkin, L. (1987). Different Daughters: A Book by Mothers of Lesbians.
San Francisco, CA: Cleis Press.
Rafkin, L. (1990). Different Mothers: Sons and daughters of lesbians talk
about their lives. Pittsburgh, PA: Cleis Press.
Ricketts, Wendell. (1991). Lesbians and Gay Men as Foster Parents.
Portland, ME: University of Southern Maine.
Rothblum, E., Cole, E. (1989). Loving Boldly: Issues Facing Lesbians.
New York, NY: Harrington Park Press.
Savage, Dan. (2000). The Kid: (What Happened After My Boyfriend and I Decided
to go Get Pregnant) An Adoption Story. New York: Plume Books.
Schulenberg, J. (1985). Gay Parenting: A Complete Guide for Gay Men and
Lesbians with Children. New York, NY: Doubleday.
Sullivan, Ann. (1995). Issues in Gay and Lesbian Adoption: Proceedings
of the Fourth Annual Peirce-Warwick Adoption Symposium. Washington, D.C.:
Child Welfare League of America.
