LGBTQ Grandparenting

This entry describes the intergenerational relationships when grandparents self-identify as LGBTQ. This entry begins with a brief overview of the grandparent–grandchild relationship by focusing on the factors that influence this significant and enduring multigenerational relationship. These issues include an exploration of the salience of sexual orientation and gender identity for the grandparent–grandchild relationship as well as the grandparent–adult child (parent) relationship.

To date, the available research that has focused on the centrality of sexual orientation in the grandparent–grandchild relationship has only been conducted with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) grandparents. Therefore, this entry is limited in its scope to highlighting this research with LGB grandparents. Recommendations for future research on the grandparent–grandchild relationship when grandparents self-identify as questioning or transgender are provided.