It is a stereotype to think that a family only involves a mother and a father of opposite sexes. For many, LGBT adoption is still a new concept and there should be more information about these adoptions to change those stereotypes. Still, a positive fact is that today there are more and more gay and lesbian couples becoming parents through LGBT adoptions. If you are a prospective adoptive parent or a birth mother hoping to place her child for adoption, there are some facts you need to know.

1. The number of same-sex couples who have adopted children has more than tripled, from 6,500 couples in 2000 to 22,000 in 2010.
2. Of the 594,000 same-sex households in the United States, 115,000 have children.
3. Two million LGBT couples have shown an interest in adopting and raising a child.
4. The ability of good parenting is not influenced by sexual orientation. A variety of studies have shown that gay and lesbian couples raise children who have the same social and mental abilities as children raised by a straight couple.
5. Studies have shown that children are more influenced by their interactions with parents than by their parents’ sexual orientation.
6. Same-sex couples want to adopt a child and are usually older, more educated, and financially stable than other types of adoptive parents.
7. More than 4% of all adopted children in the United States are raised by LGBT parents.
8. Lesbian and gay couples adopt transracially more often than heterosexual couples.
9. Children of LGBT couples are usually much more tolerant and have a better understanding of different lifestyle choices.
10. Children of gay and lesbian parents are much more self-aware, they communicate about their feelings more openly, and show more empathy for people different from themselves.
11. Children of gay and lesbian parents usually report that gender roles are not an obstacle for them.
12. Growing up in a gay/lesbian or LGBT household does not make a child gay.
13. Gays and lesbians tend to be more committed and motivated parents.
14. LGBT adoptions have increased in number during the last 10 years, and many countries have laws which allow gay and lesbian couples to adopt a baby.
15. Public support for allowing gays and lesbians to adopt children has steadily increased.

LGBT adoptions are growing exponentially and the social situation is fortunately changing. The most important benefit of LGBT adoption is the awareness that it is creating in people’s minds as well as the fact that it is slowly changing stereotypes and prejudices. If there were more LGBT adoptions, there would be more acceptance of different life choices. Everyone can benefit from LGBT adoption, especially the child who becomes a part of a loving and caring family.