Adoption by Same-Sex Couples19th Annual Robyn Rafferty Mathias ConferenceI. IntroductionIn recent years, there has been an increase in the number of same-sex couples seeking adoption of children in early childhood or from the foster care system. Although society generally views the family as consisting of a father and a mother, times are changing. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, this societal perception of a normal family, called the "nuclear family," represents only less than 24 percent of households in the United States. The concept of the “nuclear family” is constantly evolving in today’s world. society, and this change must be accompanied by a more open vision of who can adopt children. It is clear that there are several issues surrounding gay and lesbian parents, but these issues do not reflect the capabilities of these couples. According to the National Health and Social Life Survey, between one and nine million children are raised by a gay parent. . The 2000 census found that approximately 601,209 same-sex couples live together in the United States. Although six states currently limit or prohibit adoption by same-sex couples, the majority of states allow such couples to adopt. It was reported in a CNN article regarding gay adoption that 60% of adoption agencies in the United States accept applications from same-sex couples. It is also important to note that these couples are of different races and ethnicities and live in various regions of the United States. States. This comes in handy when finding homes for children. Same-sex couples have also been found to be more open than some heterosexual couples about the types of children they are willing to adopt. Research has shown that many homosexual coups... middle of paper ...... one child, then there is another child deprived of adults willing and able to care for them. In these cases, more children risk aging out of the system and never having a permanent family of their own. The more people understand that allowing same-sex couples to adopt reduces the number of children remaining in the foster care system, the more they will advocate for them. By conducting this research, a topic once considered taboo has now been addressed. It is clear that this problem can no longer go unnoticed. It is time to change the way society views the “nuclear family” and the way adoption professionals view prospective adopters. Ultimately, same-sex couples should have the same opportunities as heterosexual couples to adopt children because research has shown that they are just as capable.