title: America's progress in achieving the legalization of same-gender adoption: analysis of public opinion, 1994 to 2012.
abstract: The struggle to achieve the legalization of same-gender adoption is ongoing. Notably, not until 2011 was adoption by a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individual legalized in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and adoption by same-gender couples is still illegal in many states. Anti-adoption forces are ever-present: From 2011 to 2013, at least five states passed laws granting faith-based agencies the right to refuse service to same-gender couples or to give preference to heterosexual couples. The aim of this article is, first, to examine the challenges confronting the legalization of same-gender adoption; second, to report the current legal status of same-gender adoption for each state; third, to report on Americans' attitudes toward the legalization of same-gender adoption from 1994 to 2012, drawing from previously published surveys of a cross section of Americans; and, fourth, to explore the implications for social work practice, including social advocacy and social policy implementation.
authors.forename: Darrel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Montero
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000300:Adoption / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001727:Bisexuality; D002648:Child; D002961:Civil Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000639:trends*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D018452:Homosexuality, Female; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011639:Public Opinion; D063507:Sexism / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000639:trends*; D063106:Transgender Persons; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult