Josh and Martin Michaux-Trask, who welcomed their son into their family through adoption in 2020, and Joanna and Emma Johnstone, dedicated foster carers since January 2023. (Supplied)
Advocates for LGBTQ+ adoption and fostering are urging other members of the LGBTQ+ community to consider the fulfilling and crucial role of parenting through adoption and fostering.
The LGBTQ+ Adoption and Fostering Week, commencing on Monday (4 March), spearheaded by New Family Social and backed in Wales by the National Adoption Service for Wales and Foster Wales, aims to emphasize the significance of providing young individuals with a stable home while dispelling misconceptions surrounding the process.
Data from the Welsh government indicates that a quarter of adoptions in Wales are now carried out by same-sex couples, a notable increase from one in 10 in 2012. Moreover, in the past year, LGBTQ+ fostering households have surged by approximately 23%.
In England, New Family Social reports that one in five adoptions last year were made possible by same-sex couples.
Emma, aged 46, and Joanna Johnstone, aged 49, residing in Carmarthenshire, Wales, both educators, embarked on their fostering journey at the start of the previous year.
Joanna, a mother to biological children, shares with PinkNews that her partner Emma, who did not have children of her own, desired to experience parenthood in some capacity, leading them to venture into fostering together.
“It’s undeniably challenging, yet incredibly fulfilling,” Joanna expresses. “Witnessing the positive impact we can have on a young person’s life is truly rewarding. Providing support to families facing challenges, whether short-term or long-term, is profoundly meaningful.”
Encouraging LGBTQ+ individuals to explore fostering and adoption is crucial, she emphasizes.
Martin, aged 42, and Josh Michaux-Trask, aged 39, hailing from the Rhondda Valley in south Wales, pursued adoption through Western Bay Adoption Service (WBAS) in 2020 after connecting with the adoption team at Pride Cymru in 2019.
Martin shares with PinkNews, “As a gay man, I never envisioned this path, but meeting Josh altered my perspective.”
Reflecting on his upbringing, Josh expresses his desire for a traditional family life, which seemed unattainable due to the societal constraints imposed by the Conservative Thatcher government’s Section 28, prohibiting the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality in educational settings and local authorities.
Josh and Martin affectionately describe their four-year-old son as “a little rascal,” underscoring that his adoption has strengthened their bond as a couple. Martin advocates for adoption or fostering, emphasizing the transformative power of providing a nurturing home.
Acknowledging the challenges faced as a male same-sex couple due to traditional gender roles, Josh highlights how their experience has shattered stereotypes, leading to widespread acceptance within their community.
Suzanne Griffiths, the director of the National Adoption Service for Wales, urges individuals contemplating adoption or fostering to reach out to their regional adoption agency with any inquiries.
“We require individuals from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to step forward as foster carers and adopters,” Griffiths affirms. “Many members of the LGBTQ+ community possess essential qualities such as empathy, patience, and dedication required to provide care.”
Griffiths addresses prevalent misconceptions surrounding fostering and adoption, emphasizing the need for a diverse pool of carers and adopters to mirror the diversity of children in need of care outside their birth families.
Previous testimonials from LGBTQ+ adopters shared with PinkNews underscore the life-altering impact of creating their own families in myriad ways.