In honor of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, we want to shine a light on the beautiful diversity of LGBTQ+ families and the unique experiences and challenges they face. LGBTQ+ families are as diverse as any other, and their love and commitment are just as valid. Let's celebrate LGBTQ+ parents and their children, as well as the progress that has been made in terms of legal recognition and societal acceptance. However, sustained social action and allyship is necessary to preserve and continue this progress towards LGBTQ+ inclusivity.
Embracing Diverse Family Structures
Like any parents, LGBTQ+ parents encompass a range of family structures. This includes LGBTQ+ couples raising children, single LGBTQ+ parents, and families formed via adoption, surrogacy, or assisted reproductive technologies. They can be married, unmarried, or cohabiting, and may also experience separation or divorce. LGBTQ+ families include both intact and blended families, as well as children who reside in multiple households.
Statistics on LGBTQ+ Parents
37% of all LGBTQ+ adults have had a child at some point in their lives. 19% of trans adults are parents; 36% of these parents identify as nonbinary (Williams Institute, 2020).
Among LGBTQ+ adults under 50 living alone or with a spouse or partner, 48% of women and 20% of men are raising a child (Williams Institute, 2020).
18% of married same-sex couples and 10% of unmarried same-sex couples are raising children (U.S. Census Bureau, 2021).
According to a 2020 survey by the Human Rights Campaign, around 57% of LGBTQ+ youth aged 13-17 would consider adopting a child in the future
Legal and Societal Progress
Over the years, there have been significant strides in legal recognition and protection of LGBTQ+ families, such as marriage equality and parental rights. Many countries and jurisdictions now allow same-sex couples to marry and adopt children. This recognition not only validates the love and commitment of LGBTQ+ parents but also grants them the same legal rights and responsibilities as non-LGBTQ+ couples.
Ongoing Challenges and Advocacy
Despite progress, LGBTQ+ families still face challenges. Adoption processes can vary, and some jurisdictions may impose additional hurdles for same-sex or gender-nonconforming couples. Some states and agencies still have barriers and discriminatory practices that affect LGBTQ+ individuals and couples looking to adopt or foster children. Surrogacy laws and regulations can also be complex and differ from one place to another.
These challenges intersect with racial and socioeconomic inequities.
LGBTQ+ parents and their children are more likely to be people of color. For example, out of all LGBTQ adults over 25, 34% of Black adults and 39% of Latinx adults are raising children, in comparison to 21% of white adults (Williams Institute, 2019; Gates, 2015).
Compared to non-LGBTQ+ parents, LGBTQ individuals and couples raising children have lower incomes, higher levels of poverty, and higher likelihoods of experiencing food insecurity (Taylor et. Al, 2016; Gates, Marriage and Family 2015; Gates, Demographics 2015).
Learn about the need for continued advocacy.
Comprehensive legal protections and ongoing advocacy are crucial to ensure equal opportunities and support for LGBTQ+ couples and individuals who want to become parents, including trans parents who experience even greater discrimination in courts, custody disputes, foster care, and adoption.
Activism is especially essential in areas with the least inclusive laws. Check out the Equality maps here for more information.
The Gift of Parenthood
For LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, becoming parents can be a profound and transformative experience. From navigating fertility options to welcoming a child into their lives, LGBTQ+ parents often demonstrate extraordinary strength, determination, and love. Their stories inspire others and challenge outdated notions of what constitutes a family.
LGBTQ+ Families Thriving
Numerous studies have shown that children raised by LGBTQ+ parents thrive and have similar outcomes to those raised by non-LGBTQ+ parents (APA, 2020, Farr, 2017).
In fact, LGBTQ+ parents are more likely to create inclusive and accepting home environments, promoting values of diversity, equality, and respect and encouraging self-esteem and resilience in their children (Farr, 2020; Farr, 2022; Goldberg, 2007; Goldberg, A. E., et al., 2020).
Like any parents, LGBTQ+ parents excel in an environment of support. While experiences differ, LGBTQ+ parents often find extra support within their communities, including LGBTQ+ organizations, support groups, and networks, providing valuable resources, shared experiences, and a sense of belonging.
Promoting Inclusivity and Celebrating Love
This Pride Month, let's honor the love, resilience, and happiness that LGBTQ+ families bring. It is vital for society to create an inclusive environment where all families, regardless of their structure, are valued and aided. Embracing the diversity of LGBTQ+ families fosters compassion for all families.
Education, awareness, and open conversations are key in challenging stereotypes and prejudices against LGBTQ+ families. Together, we can advocate for equal parental rights, combat discrimination, and ensure that every LGBTQ+ individual and couple can experience the profound joy of being parents.
SOURCES
https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/lgbt-parenting-us/
https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2021/same-sex-couple-households.html
https://www.census.gov/topics/families/same-sex-couples.html
https://www.familyequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/LGBTQ-Families-2020-Sheet-Final-clean-version.pdf
https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/visualization/lgbt-stats/?topic=LGBT#demographic
Gary J. Gates, Marriage and Family: LGBT Individuals and Same-Sex Couples, The Future of Children, 25(2):67–87 (Princeton: Brookings, Fall 2015). https://futureofchildren.princeton.edu/sites/futureofchildren/files/media/marriage_and_child_wellbeing_revisited_25_2_full_journal.pdf
Gary J. Gates, Demographics of Married and Unmarried Same-Sex Couples: Analyses of the 2013 American Community Survey (Los Angeles, CA: Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, 2015). https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/demographics-same-sex-couples-acs2013-march-2015.pdf
https://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/parenting
Farr, R. H., et al. (2017). "Family Relationships of Lesbians and Gay Men." Journal of Marriage and Family, 79(2), 464-481. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/09637214221121295?journalCode=cdpa
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jftr.12241
https://www.familyequality.org/resources/facts-about-lgbtq-families/
https://www.ncfr.org/policy/research-and-policy-briefs/lgbtq-parents-and-their-children
Goldberg A. E., Allen K. R. (Eds.). (2020). LGBTQ-parent families: Innovations in research and implications for practice (2nd ed.). Springer.
Goldberg, A. E. (2007a). (How) does it make a difference? Perspectives of adults with lesbian, gay, and bisexual parents. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 77(4), 550. https://doi.org//10.1037/0002-9432.77.4.550
Wheeler E. E., Horne S. G., Maroney M., Johnson T. (2018). “Everything that we can do”: A content analysis of the protective strategies used by GLBTQ parents. Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 14(3), 196–212. https://doi.org/10.1080/1550428X.2017.1325812
Horne S. G., Johnson T., Yel N., Maroney M. R., McGinley M. (2022). Unequal rights between LGBTQ parents living in the U.S.: The association of minority stress to relationship satisfaction and parental stress. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 11(2), 141–160. https://doi.org/10.1037/cfp0000192
Farr, R. H., Tornello, S. L., & Rostosky, S. S. (2022). How Do LGBTQ+ Parents Raise Well-Adjusted, Resilient, and Thriving Children? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 31(6), 526–535. https://doi.org/10.1177/09637214221121295
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