Lesbian and Gay Adopters: Analyses of States Social Context and Legal Policies

• In Event: 220 - Section on the Sociology of the Family Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 04. Institutionalization and De-Institutionalization of Marriage

Abstract

Debates on marriage equality have brought attention to the social and legal issues faced by lesbians and gay men. This study investigated the variation between states with regards to their legal policies and social context toward lesbians and gay men as adopters and their ability to marry. Based on a review of the literature and state laws, a typology was constructed based on whether same-sex marriage and adoption were permitted or not. Based on this typology, states were categorized into types at two time periods: May 2013 and December 2014. These two time periods illustrate the legal landscape toward same-sex couples marrying and adopting prior to and directly following the Supreme Court decision in United States v. Windsor. It is evident that much has changed in the year and a half following the Supreme Court’s decision; however, the full extent of its impact will be investigated in this study/ Preliminary results indicate that there does appear to be a relationship between adoption and marriage that should be explored further in future research.

Author

• Melanie Lea Duncan, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point