Raphael Wong talks to Joshua Blue about the adoption journey of him and his same-sex partner in the United States and Hong Kong.

Joshua and his partner Taka carefully evaluated various family-building options, including single-parent adoption in Hong Kong and surrogacy, before deciding to pursue adoption in the United States whilst maintaining their Hong Kong residency. They engaged American Adoption Professionals Abroad in 2014, initiating a comprehensive process that would eventually lead to their son’s adoption.

The journey involved rigorous home study assessments, domestic private adoption procedures in Illinois, and extensive documentation preparation. They created profiles for birth parent(s’) consideration, secured legal representation through an Illinois-qualified lawyer, and completed mandatory adoptive parent training. Despite initial optimism, the matching process extended beyond the initially expected time, necessitating documentation renewals and managing the emotional complexity of waiting.

A significant breakthrough came in September 2017 when they connected with Karen, the birth mother. With noteworthy employer support, Joshua and Taka were present in Chicago for their son Isaac’s birth in October 2018. They successfully navigated the legal requirements, securing the Adoption Decree, name change documentation, updated birth certificate and other necessary paperwork.

While their return to Hong Kong proceeded smoothly, some administrative coordination was required between the Immigration Department and Social Welfare Department before Isaac’s dependent visa was granted. Their experience highlights the evolving landscape of international adoption and cross-border family recognition.

Their family structure exemplifies modern kinship networks, maintaining connections across continents with both partners’ extended families and Isaac’s birth mother and her family in Mexico. As an educator, Joshua offers valuable perspectives on rainbow families’ integration within Hong Kong’s educational environment, noting generally positive experiences despite opportunities for systemic improvement.

This is another case illustrates the complex interplay of international adoption law, cross-cultural family building, and the gradual normalisation of diverse family structures in Hong Kong’s professional and social spheres. Love is love!

Every family deserves recognition and respect, regardless of how it’s formed. This Pride Month, we celebrate rainbow families who enrich our community with their love and resilience. Their journeys remind us that family bonds transcend conventional definitions, and their strength inspires positive change towards a more inclusive society.