Gay and Lesbian Parenting

‘Lesbian and gay parenting’ (LG parenting) refers to a variety of families where the mother or father openly identifies as lesbian or gay. These families are now more visible and widespread than in the past, with more countries, primarily in the Americas and Europe, having legalised LG parenting. This entry discusses the unique experiences of LG families since sexual orientation is a contested issue in most countries and the challenges faced by children and parents in dealing with their vulnerable position. Research comparing LG families and heterosexual-headed families shows minimal differences in parental behaviours and no differences in developmental outcomes for the children. Notably, while LG parenting as a research field has been characterised by essentialist notions of gender and sexual orientation, at times it ...