Jezebel: Adoption

Virginia Tries to Block Funding for Adoption Agencies Who Discriminate Against Gays

Lane Moore — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST

We may have a bit of good news regarding the seemingly never-ending case of 'Virginia vs. Homosexuals Adopting Babies Who Need Good Families, Gay Or Straight'. More »

After 77 Years Of Waiting, A 94-Year-Old Woman Finally Meets The Baby She Had To Give Up

Cassie Murdoch — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:15:00 EST

It seems almost impossible that you could be separated from someone for 77 years, and then all of a sudden, with a single lucky phone call, they could be back in your life. But that's exactly what happened to Minka Disbrow. More »

Gay And Lesbian Adoptions Have Tripled Despite Persistent Discrimination

Lane Moore — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 12:55:00 EDT

According to USA Today, "the number of gays and lesbians adopting children has nearly tripled in the past decade despite discriminatory rules in many states, according to an analysis of recent population trends" which is the possibly the best kind of Saturday news you could ask for. More »

Glee Under Fire For Adoption Foolishness

Margaret Hartmann — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:38:00 EDT

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This season on Glee, one of the major plotlines involves 17-year-old Quinn scheming to win back the baby she put up for adoption, then never referenced for an entire season. The story is soap opera-y (in a bad way) and doesn't make much sense, but the problem is more serious than a few million fans screaming "JUST SING ALREADY" when people start yapping about baby Beth. While the show prides itself on tackling social issues, it's putting out horrible messages about adoption. More »

Mother Tries To Sell Baby So She Can Go To Disney World

Erin Gloria Ryan — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EDT

A Newark mother has been arrested and ordered to never contact her infant son after several bad decisions culminating in a Facebook announcement that she was planning on selling him. Her reason? She didn't want to have another kid, because she wanted to go to Disney World. Most fucked up Disney-related maternal absence ever? More »

16 & Pregnant: There Are Actually People Who Don't "Believe In" Adoption

Tracie Egan Morrissey — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 15:40:00 EDT

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As it is with the lion's share of these kids, the baby daddy on last night's episode was an idiot asshole who was way too immature to even begin to comprehend what it takes to be a father. Taylor is a 15-year-old pregnant high school freshman who is going out with 16-year-old Nathan. Taylor's mother seems to be the only person in the entire situation who is actually confronting reality, asking that the kids seriously consider adoption as a choice. But Nathan and his mother "don't believe in adoption." It's unconscionable that there are people who would even consider adoption to even be up for dogmatic debate. Nathan was adamant about the fact that babies should be raised by their "blood parents." However, he was unwilling to get a job to support his child, nor was he supportive when it came to middle-of-the-night feedings and changes. More »

16 & Pregnant: 15-Year-Old Boys Are Idiots

Tracie Egan Morrissey — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 13:40:00 EDT

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On last night's episode of 16 & Pregnant, 17-year-old Kianna got knocked up by her 15-year-old boyfriend of two months, Zak. Only Kianna seemed to understand the enormity of their situation—neither of them had jobs and she only had $130 in savings—and how difficult it would be for them to continue their education if they had a child. Being realistic, she seemed to be leaning toward adoption, but Zak was dead set against it, and in the clip above, gives her the worst possible argument for actually keeping the baby: that everything would just magically work out. Amazingly, she was persuaded and they kept their son. Unsurprisingly, Zak was not around much once the baby was born, and since he lives in a different town and isn't old enough to drive, he can only see his son when his mom has the time to give him a ride. More »

New Gay Adoption Bill Bans Discrimination

Irin Carmon — Wed, 04 May 2011 10:20:52 EDT

Not everything coming out of the House of Representatives lately is toxic. Here's something to get excited about: the Every Child Deserves a Family Act, which would "ban discrimination in adoption or foster care placement based on the sexual orientation, marital status or gender identity of the potential parent, or the sexual orientation or gender identity of the child." More »

British Social Workers No Longer Allowed To Bar Couples From Adopting Children of Different Race

Erin Gloria Ryan — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 14:15:00 EST

New rules that will take effect this week will end the practice of social workers stopping white adoptive couples from adopting non-white babies from inside the UK system. The move is designed to help more non-white children find permanent homes, and while a move making adoption easier is to be applauded, it seems a little silly that a rule like this existed in the first place. More »

Hot Sauce Mom Sauced Son At Producer's Request

Anna North — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 10:56:00 EST

Jessica Beagley, the mom whose "hot saucing" punishment of her son appeared on Dr. Phil, specifically taped the punishment at the show's request. What's worse — that they asked her, or that she agreed? More »

Mom Could Lose Kids Over "Hot Saucing" Punishment

Anna North — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 09:36:00 EST

An Alaska mom faces child abuse charges after she forced her son to drink hot sauce — and footage aired on "Dr. Phil." If she's convicted, her adopted children could even be sent back to Russia. More »

Want a Baby? Buy a Billboard and Let the World Know

Lauri Apple — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 14:30:34 EST

Michiganders Wendy and Josh Rougeau got sick of waiting on the adoption process to deliver up a bundle of joy, so they plunked down $2,000 for this billboard that advertises their baby-wanting. How's it working out? More »

North Carolina Courts Hate Gays, Lesbians, Adoptive Parents, Possibly Everyone

Rachel Kincaid — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:35:00 EST

If you're part of a same-sex family in a state where gay marriage isn't legal, your life is hard. If, for whatever reason, the parents in that family decide to separate, your life gets even harder. More »

Prince William & Kate Set A Wedding Date

Dodai Stewart — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST

Have your secretary clear your shhhedule! Prince William and Kate Middleton have decided to hold their wedding at Westminster Abbey; the date will be Friday, April 29, 2011.

Our Newest Citizen Can't Wait To Chow Down On Turkey

Margaret Hartmann — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:21:03 EST

[New York, November 18: Theodore Lieberman, 2, adopted from Ethiopia, sits between his parents during the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services first Adoption Day ceremony. Seventeen adopted children were naturalized in time to celebrate their first Thanksgiving. Image via AP.]

Florida Sensibly Strikes Down Gay Adoption Ban

Anna North — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 09:42:00 EDT

A Florida court ruled yesterday that the state's ban on gay people adopting children is unconstitutional — and pending an appeal, the ban will be lifted. More »

Should Sperm Donation Be More Like Adoption?

Anna North — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 14:14:00 EDT

A conservative group is pushing to make sperm donation as closely regulated as adoption — because, they claim, children of sperm donors face problems down the road. But do they have other motivations? More »

Man Discovers Biological Mother Is A Bearded Lady

Margaret Hartmann — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:17:00 EDT

33-year-old Richard Lorenc's search for his biological parents revealed that his mother is Vivian Wheeler, the 62-year-old Guinness World Record-holder for "longest female beard." Lorenc was kidnapped by his father, a carnival worker, but has now reunited with his mother. More »

World Slowly Discovers That Good Parents Are Good Parents, Gay Or Straight

Irin Carmon — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:26:16 EDT

Get this: parental stress levels and skills matter more to their adopted kids' development than the parents' sexuality. Meanwhile, the fictional lesbian parents on The Kids Are All Right are pissing some people off. More »

108-Year-Old Woman, 38-Year-Old Husband Consider Adoption

Hortense Smith — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:30:00 EDT

In news seemingly designed specifically for the internet to freak out over: a 108-year-old woman named Wook Kundor has expressed her desire to have a child, and her 38-year-old husband has stated that the couple is considering adoption. More »

The Birth Mother Stigma

Anna North — Fri, 21 May 2010 14:00:00 EDT

Newsweek's Raina Kelley poses an interesting question: what if Bristol Palin had decided to give her baby up for adoption? The fact that this might have severely hampered her mother's campaign reveals how we still stigmatize birth mothers. More »

Teen Girls Feel The Need For Speed • Hot Balloon Treatment Reduces Period Woes

Katy Kelleher — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:20:00 EDT

• In a recent survey of teenage drivers, 48% of girls admitted to routinely driving 10 miles or more over the speed limit, while only 36% of boys said the same. Furthermore, only 23% said teens make good drivers. More »

Russia Suspends American Adoptions • Woman Develops Sex Disorder After Falling Off Wii

Katy Kelleher — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EDT

• Russia has suspended all adoptions to U.S. parents. This decision comes just a week after Torry Hansen, 33, sent back her 7-year-old adopted son with little explanation. Authorities say the ban will be lifted once they agree on procedures. More »

Mom's "Return" Of Child Sparks Continuing Adoption Furor

Anna North — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EDT

A mom who returned her adopted seven-year-old boy to Russia hasn't yet been charged — except in the court of public opinion. But does she deserve to be demonized? More »

16 And Pregnant: The Choice Of Adoption

Tracie Egan Morrissey — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EDT

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On last night's episode, Lori decided against abortion because she'd been adopted, and was grateful for her birth mother's decision. However, Lori questioned giving her baby up for adoption, because he's the only biological relation she has in her life. More »

Tila Tequila Says She's Been Approved To Adopt A Russian Baby

Tracie Egan Morrissey — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:40:00 EST

It's been an eventful morning for Tila Tequila on Twitter: She thought she was having a miscarriage, threatened suicide, bitched about her lack of privacy, and announced that she's been "100% confirmed" to adopt a baby from Russia. More »

Lindsey Vonn's "Sexualized" Cover • Your Salad Probably Contains Poop

Katy Kelleher — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:30:00 EST

• Lindsey Vonn appears on the cover of Sports Illustrated in a pose that some say represents all that is wrong with the media coverage of female athletes. Women Talk Sports says: More »

Worst Laid Plans: Baptist Missionaries And Helping Kids In Haiti

LatoyaPeterson — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST

When ten members of the Central Valley Baptist Church made their decision to "rescue orphans" in Haiti and take them to the Dominican Republic, their decision wasn't just stupid - it actually put the children in more danger. More »

Charity Gone Wrong: Missionaries Under Fire For Taking Haitian Children

Anna North — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST

Ten Americans have been jailed for trying to illegally take 33 Haitian children out of the country — some of whom had parents. Their actions are an example of the worst kind of international aid. More »

Surrogate Who Took Back Babies: "I Felt Irresponsible As A Mother"

Margaret Hartmann — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:20:00 EST

Today on GMA surrogate mother Shelley Baker said she didn't reclaim the twins she birthed because their adoptive mom's anxiety and depression-relation illness and drug conviction necessarily make her an unfit parent, "it just makes me uncomfortable." More »

Teen Mom: "I Wish My Parents Would Stop Telling Me To Be A Better Mom"

Tracie Egan Morrissey — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST

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On last night's episode Farrah repeatedly left her baby at home, and spent late nights out with friends, to her parents' chagrin. She's angry her folks treat her like a kid, and wishes they'd let her be a "normal" teenager. More »

Teen Mom: When Parents Of Parents Make Bad Choices

Tracie Egan Morrissey — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST

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On last night's episode, Catelynn and Tyler—who gave their daughter up for adoption so that she could have a better life than they could give her—continued to get shit for their (selfless!) decision from Tyler's ex-con father. More »

Oklahoma Couple Wants To "Return" Adopted Son

Margaret Hartmann — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:20:00 EST

Today Good Morning America interviewed Melissa and Tony Wescott, who are fighting to return their adopted 11-year-old son to the state of Oklahoma because he has severe psychiatric problems. They say loving him now means "letting him go." More »

Russia Discriminates Against "Miss Positive" HIV Pageant Queen

Margaret Hartmann — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:40:00 EST

Russian authorities won't let HIV-positive beauty queen Svetlana Izambayeva adopt her 10-year-old brother from an orphanage, even though she's married and has two HIV-negative children. The human rights group Agora is helping her appeal the "illegal and discriminatory" decision. [Brietbart] More »

Angelina To Adopt Baby No. 7

Katy Kelleher — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST

Angelina Jolie has reportedly begun the process to adopt a seventh child from Syria. But she signed the papers alone, which naturally leads to some speculation. More »

Sarah Palin Fans Christened The "Anti-Christers" • Gay Couples Make Good Parents

Katy Kelleher — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:30:00 EDT

• According to a recent poll, 82% of those who think Obama is the Anti-Christ also think Sarah Palin is a swell broad. True/Slant proposes a new name for these right-wing wingnuts: Anti-Christers. • More »

An Offer You Can't Refuse

Sadie Stein — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:20:00 EDT

In order to combat the inevitable summer shelter overflow of adult cats, aggravated by the economy, Michigan shelters have instituted a campaign advertising Certified Pre-Owned Cats, "better than new," complete with free "multipoint inspection." The campaign has increased adoptions. [CBS] More »

EC Allegedly Used "Casually" In India • Man Attacks Woman In Ear Salon

Katy Kelleher — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:40:00 EDT

• Gynecologists report seeing a spike in young women with menstrual complications resulting from repeat use of OTC emergency contraceptive pills. The Times of India claims the pills are being used "not in emergency but as casual contraception." • More »

Pop Culture Meets Reproduction: Stars, Surrogacy, And Adoption

Anna North — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:20:00 EDT

Two news stories today examine our most important source for information about reproductive choices: the movies! More »

Orphan Discriminates Against Possessed Children

Sadie Stein — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:20:00 EDT

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The horror movie Orphanis attracting criticism from adoption advocacy groups who worry it casts older adopted children in a bad light. Well, the demonic ones, certainly. More »