Spotlight on LGBT Adoption

Over the past 18 years of being together, Chicagoans Robert Castillo and John Pennycuff have had their marriage licenses nullified and have been kicked out of a bar for dancing together. But one thing they won't have to worry about in Illinois is being stopped from adopting a child.

"Even though there may be extremes to both sides of this issue in Illinois, at least there are fair-minded people here, which I think works to our favor," Castillo said.

According to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, all families that are qualified to care for the children are treated equally in Illinois.

"DCFS law does not inhibit or prohibit adoption by non-heterosexual individuals or couples," said Kendall Marlowe, spokesman for the department. "This state gives full faith and credit to adoptions completed legally in other states."

To read the rest of this story, please visit the Medill Reports website, where it was originally published in 2008. The story includes a history of laws and policies governing same-sex adoption, which has been recognized in Illinois since 1995.