A word from...... James Lawrence, Head of Communications & Engagement

Does the adoption sector in Britain have a lesbian problem? That’s the question some are asking with the release of the latest statistics for Scotland. On the surface the story was of maintaining the status quo. 1 in 8 adoptions were to same-gender couples in Scotland in 2024. But that proportion masked a tumble in adoptions to female couples. That figure almost halved between 2023 and 2024 – falling from 15 to 8.

There was a similar story in England in its 2023/24 statistics. Again, the proportion of adoptions to same-gender couples remained the same, accounting for 1 in 5 adoptions. But a closer analysis of the figures told a different story. While the total number of adoptions in England fell by 20 compared to the previous year, the fall in the total number of adoptions by same-gender couples was twice that. And of that 40, adoptions by female couples fell by 30.

What factors could be behind this fall? One possibility could be the sector’s recruitment campaigns. These often favour male couples to represent LGBTQ+ adoption stories, leaving lesbian and bi women invisible. It’s often said that people aspire to be what they can see. If lesbian and bi female adopters potential applicants don’t see themselves in government campaigns, will they engage with adoption as the route to building their families? This of course assumes those campaigns mention LGBTQ+ people at all.

At New Family Social we lead an annual March campaign. It specifically encourages more from our community to consider adoption and fostering. No local councils in Scotland choose to participate. In contrast all the Scottish voluntary agencies take part. Compare that with Wales, – which routinely matches England as the leading UK country on LGBTQ+ engagement with adoption. All the Welsh local authority and voluntary agencies take part, year after year.

 There’s also the question of whether issues persist with the assessment and matching processes. Are applicants still asked outdated questions in assessment? Are lesbian and bi women overlooked as potential adoptive parents for boys? Are they treated as the least preferable option among approved adopters? Or is this the issue a sign of a fundamental shift away from adoption as a route to lesbian and bi women forming their families, in favour of IVF and other methods?

 While the answers may only become fully clear in time, it’s incumbent on the sector to ask itself some questions. Do its efforts to recruit and retain LGBTQ+ applicants as potential adoptive parents engage all elements of our community? Vulnerable children deserve adoptive parents from the widest possible pool. That must include LGBTQ+ women.