Same sex couples face unique legal challenges when they decide to become a family with children. While California allows same-sex couples to adopt, the process can be long and difficult.<\/p>\n
The adoption process is often difficult even for heterosexual couples, and same-sex couples face even greater challenges when it comes to adoption. In California, GLBT adoption and second parent adoption are legal and can present significant legal and social challenges for same-sex couples.<\/p>\n
Gay and lesbian couples often decide to bring a child into their lives through conception and birth. For a lesbian couple, this involves finding a male donor or visiting a sperm bank and then having one member of the couple become pregnant. In such a partnership, the other parent can then become a legal second parent through stepparent or second parent adoption. Gay men can also become legal parents of a child through the use of a surrogate mother.<\/p>\n