Council supports LGBT adoption and fostering week
Plymouth City Council is supporting LGBT adoption and fostering week to dispel the myth that LGBT people can’t foster or adopt.
It’s after new research published by Action for Children and New Family Social, showed that sexuality and gender identity are seen as barriers to becoming parents by one in three (36 per cent) LGBT people.
The survey of 400 lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) parents and people who are considering fostering and adoption in the UK, also reveals that one in four (25 per cent) were told that they should not be a parent – often by their own family.
The findings mark the launch of New Family Social’s LGBT Fostering and Adoption Week (3-9 March), as the two charities partner to dispel the myths within the gay community and the general public. Other Action for Children research shows one in three (32 per cent) of the general UK population believe that being gay means you are unable to foster children.
Jacob Tas, interim Chief Executive of Action for Children, said: “Being a good parent has nothing to do with being gay or straight. Right now there are more than 6,000 children waiting to be adopted and an urgent need to find 8,600 [5] foster families”
Tor Docherty, Director of New Family Social said: “If just one per cent of the LGBT community adopt or foster, this could plug the gap and ensure every child in the country has a loving home.”
Councillor Nicky Williams, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “We’re delighted to support this campaign to dispel the myths the LGBT community can’t adopt or foster. Right now in Plymouth we have more than 30 children with a plan for adoption who we are searching for a loving, permanent family to call their own.”
Alison Barker, Service Manager for the Council’s Adoption and Fostering Services, said: “We consider a person’s ability to provide a loving, stable home either as adopters or as foster carers much more important than sexual orientation. Different people bring different qualities to parenting and we firmly believe that same sex adopters and foster carers have as much to offer as anyone else.”
Colin, 53 and Callum, 43, from Devon, adopted a seven-year-old boy last year. Colin said: “Adopting our son has made such a huge difference to our lives; it was something we didn’t ever think we could do. We thought about fostering first and everyone was so accepting and supporting that we just thought we not make this a permanent arrangement. The fact that we’re a same sex couple was never a problem at all.”
After hearing about the results of the survey he added: “It doesn’t surprise me how many people believe they can’t adopt. When we started the process we overwhelmed with all the support from our family, friends and work colleagues. I would say to anyone else in our position if you want to be a parent just pick up the phone and go to an open evening. Just do something. It’s made us complete as a family.”
For further information about LGBT adoption and fostering week or to receive a copy of the survey, please call Liz Fenwick on 020 3124 0661 or 07718 114031 or email liz.fenwick@actionforchildren.org.uk
For more information visit www.lgbtadoptfosterweek.org.uk or www.actionforchildren.org.uk
For interviews with a local case study, or to speak to Plymouth City Council’s Adoption and Fostering service manager Alison Barker, please call Angie Scott on 01752 304317 or email angie.scott@plymouth.gov.uk
For more information about Adoption or Fostering in Plymouth please visit www.fosterforplymouth.co.uk or www.adoptforplymouth.co.uk
