Equal adoption rights

Until 2005, same-sex couples in England and Wales could not adopt a child together. Only single people and married couples could apply jointly, so lesbian, gay and bi couples were excluded from a process that was open to everyone else (same-sex marriage didn’t arrive until 2014). 

Stonewall's campaign 

Everyone deserves the opportunity to start a family, regardless of their identity. Stonewall campaigned for LGBTQ+ people to have equal rights to adoption, raising awareness of the fact that what children need most is a safe, loving and stable home, and same-sex couples can provide this just as well as anyone else.  

Despite resistance from some members of Parliament and some religious groups, Stonewall lobbied hard for the passage of the Adoption and Children Act. However, the House of Lords initially rejected provisions allowing unmarried and same-sex couples to adopt jointly, voting to restrict joint adoption strictly to married couples. 

Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith placed a three-line whip on his MPs to block same-sex adoption, but Stonewall's advocacy helped persuade a group of Conservative MPs to defy the whip and vote in favor of the rights. 

Passing the Adoption and Children act 2002 

The Adoption and Children Act received Royal Assent in November 2002. For the first time unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, could apply to adopt jointly. The law came into force on 30 December 2005 in England and Wales. 

This change gave LGBTQ+ couples the same chance as everyone else to give a child a loving home.