Supporting LGBT adoption rights is not just a matter of equality—it is a solution to a real crisis in the foster care system

In Canada, there are over 30,000 children in the foster system, many of whom age out without ever finding a permanent home. Studies consistently show that children raised by same-sex couples thrive just as well as those raised by heterosexual parents. A 2016 study by Columbia Law School analyzed over 70 research papers on same-sex parenting and found no negative impact on children’s mental health, education, or emotional well-being. The American Psychological Association and Canadian Paediatric Society both confirm that sexual orientation has no bearing on a person’s ability to be a good parent. Meanwhile, research suggests that children in long-term foster care face higher risks of homelessness, incarceration, and unemployment compared to those in stable homes. Denying LGBT couples the right to adopt only keeps more children in the system unnecessarily, limiting their chance at a loving, permanent family. In countries where same-sex adoption is legal, studies have found that these families provide the same levels of care, support, and success for children as their heterosexual counterparts. In the end, refusing LGBT adoption rights is not just discriminatory—it actively harms children who deserve a home.