Introduction
One of the most frightening things a parent can face is the possibility of losing custody of a child. But for gay and lesbian parents, custody disputes can be an especially great concern. The reasons are simple: First, some judges still believe unsupported myths about gay and lesbian parents. They may even view gay and lesbian people as inherently unfit to be parents and may award sole custody to the heterosexual parent (even, in a few cases, where there is known to be abuse.) And, second, in lesbian and gay couples, the law often recognizes only one parent - the biological or adoptive one - as a legal parent. As a result, judges may grant custody or visitation solely to the legal parent in the event of a break-up, no matter how close and committed both adults’ relationship to the child may be.
Articles
Professional Organizations on LGBT Parenting
The prevailing professional opinion is that a parent's sexual orientation has nothing to do with his or her ability to be a good parent.
What to Do if Second-Parent Adoption is Unavailable
An overview of the steps to take if second-parent adoption is unavailable where you live.