Adoptive Parents’ Attitudes Towards Gay and Lesbian Adoption

Abstract

Using a cross-sectional sample, this study examined 776 adoptive parents’ attitudes toward gay and lesbian adoption. Analysis was conducted on three subgroups: married fathers, married mothers, and single mothers. Findings include that for married fathers older age, a lower level of education, a Christian religious denomination, higher levels of religiosity, and a conservative political ideology were all factors in a more negative attitude toward gay and lesbian adoption. Factors leading to less tolerant attitudes of married mothers were non-White race, having only technical training or an associate's degree, a Christian religious denomination, a higher level of religiosity, and a conservative political ideology. Single mothers differed somewhat from married couples in that religious affiliation was not a factor, but non-white race, lower levels of education, stay-at-home/retired employment status, higher levels of religiosity, and a conservative political ideology were all identified as significant predictors of attitudes toward gay and lesbian adoption. These findings are consistent with the small but existing literature on the public's perceptions of gay and lesbian adoption.

KEYWORDS:

• lesbian
• gay
• adoption
• attitudes

Notes

^aAdoptive Parents Scale: scores can range from 14 to 70, with higher scores indicating more tolerance of gay and lesbian adoption.

^bMidpoint of the APS scale = 42.