Research shows that people are often put off considering adopting or fostering a child, because the application process is seen as overly invasive and complex, or that there is a perceived lack of support, or that agencies want a certain ‘type’ of adopter. A survey by LGBT fostering and adoption support charity New Family Social, last year found that 44% of respondents believed that being LGBT would be a barrier to being an adoptive parent.
While just under 1 in 10 adopters and foster carers are LGBT, trans and non-binary people are under-represented. New Family Social believes that this could be down to fears of prejudice and intrusive assessment procedures. Diagrama, an adoption and fostering charity recruiting adopters and foster carers in London and the South-East is challenging these beliefs, and urging trans and non-binary people to think again, and help transform the life of a child in need.