The Williams Institute

Lesbian and gay individuals could be among the potential foster parents or adoptive parents for whom placements would be refused under the proposed legislation of Virginia HB 189/SB 349.  We estimate that 1,700 adopted children and 300 foster children are being raised by single lesbians and gay men in Virginia. According to our estimates, 40,000 lesbians and gay men may be prospective adoptive parents in Virginia.  These individuals play an important role in providing adoptive homes and foster care for children in the state.  If this legislation were to pass, families such as these may find it more difficult to serve as adoptive or foster parents, resulting in more children in congregate care or more children remaining in foster care for longer periods of time.