Gayby Boom? Census Shows Rise in Adoptions

The number of gay parents who are adopting has doubled, according to new census figures, providing statistical evidence of the recent baby boom felt across the country.

In the 2000 survey, 8 percent of same-sex couples reported having an adopted child in their household. In 2010, that number jumped sharply to 19 percent of couples, according to a report by The New York Times.

"The trend line is absolutely straight up," Adam Pertman told the newspaper. He is executive director for the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, which lobbies on adoption policies.

The increase comes despite legal hurdles that still remain in many states that don't recognize gay marriage, making it more complicated for a gay couple to complete the adoption process than it would be for their straight counterpart. Plus, in large parts of the country, gay people were banned from adopting. A Florida judge only reversed a statewide ban in September of 2010, ruling it violated their constitution.

Approximately 115,000 children in the United States are estimated to be in need of permanent homes.