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HRC Foundation Youth Ambassador Reflects on the Power of Adoption, Acceptance and Family
This November, HRC celebrated National Adoption Month. This year, the celebration focused on older youth in foster care waiting for adoption and how critical it is to do better at finding permanent families for older youth in care.
The research on the positive impact of adoption for older youth in foster care is clear. Older youth who are adopted are more likely to complete high school, go to college and be more emotionally secure than their peers who remain in care.
HRC Foundation Youth Ambassador Thomas Davis, who himself was adopted, knows firsthand the positive impact of finding a permanent family and how adoptive families can best support LGBTQ youth.
“(Adoptive families) have the power to change this kid’s life,” he said.
No matter what age, he continued, “Each child deserves to be loved and find a home regardless of how old they are.”
Thomas had specific advice for foster or adoptive parents on how to best support an LGBTQ youth.
“Listen when you don’t understand and seek out help from someone that can assist them if they do not know how to support LGBTQ youth,” he explained.
While some non-LGBT prospective parents in particular may worry about their capacity to raise an LGBTQ youth, Thomas encouraged them not to let those worries get in their way of providing a home for a young person in need.
“LGBTQ youth have other issues going on beside the fact that they are LGBTQ,” he explained. “If you help them meet other needs they will be able to cope with being LGBTQ easier.”
This November, HRC is proud to celebrate National Adoption Month. Throughout the month, HRC will recognize the adoption agencies that participate in our All Children – All Families Project, demonstrating their commitment to improving outcomes for LGBTQ youth in foster care, and welcoming and supporting LGBT families.
Stay tuned to HRC blog throughout the month for more adoption stories.
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