1 in 8 adoptions in England are by same-sex couples

One in eight adoptions in England are now to same-sex couples, according to stats released this week.

The LGBT statistics released on Thursday by the Department for Education shows that the proportion of children being adopted by same-sex couples in England is the highest since records began.

“LGBT+ people are more likely to consider adopting children that can be seen as ‘harder to place’—because of factors such as their age or if they have special needs.”

— Tor Docherty, New Family Social

3,820 children were adopted in England in 2018.

Of those, 450 were adopted by same-sex couples, amounting to 12 percent of children, or one in eight.

New statistics show that one in every eight adoptions in England is to a same-sex couple.

The total number of children adopted has fallen has fallen by nearly 30 percent since 2015, declining from 5,360 to 3.820.

However, the number of same-sex adoptions has remained stable at around 450 per year.

Same-sex adoptions are more common, stats show

Tor Docherty of New Family Social told PinkNews: “LGBT+ people can bring fantastic parenting skills to their adopted children. We’re thrilled to see agencies consistently recognising that LGBT+ people pay a key role in helping transform the lives of our most vulnerable children.”

Same-sex adoptions have remained stable, as total adoptions declined

New Family Social, a peer support charity for LGBT+ adopters and foster carers, added: “We know from snapshot research that LGBT+ people are more likely to consider adopting children that can be seen as ‘harder to place’ – because of factors such as their age or if they have special needs – which can make it easier for social services to match vulnerable children with potential parents.”