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This qualitative research study explored the family formation processes and parenting experiences of same-sex couples in the unique socio-cultural context of the Philippines. While same-sex relationships and LGBTQ + rights have gained increasing recognition globally, the Philippines remains a conservative society with deeply rooted traditional norms and religious influences. It delved into the complexities of family formation, including relationship initiation, and decision-making processes regarding parenting. Findings suggest that same-sex couples in the Philippines employ diverse strategies to create families, such as adoption, and raising children of a family relative. These strategies are often influenced by factors such as familial support, and socio-cultural norms. The parenting experiences of same-sex couples revealed both shared challenges, such as discrimination and exclusion, as well as unique opportunities for reshaping traditional gender roles within the household. By highlighting the lived experiences of these couples, this study advocates for a more inclusive understanding of family structures and challenges the prevailing heteronormative discourse. The findings underscored the need for policy initiatives that safeguard the rights of LGBTQ + individuals and families, while fostering social acceptance and understanding within the Philippines' cultural framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: While there is extensive quantitative research on factors related to support/opposition of attitudes towards same-sex parenting (SSP), relevant qualitative research is limited, despite the need to identify subtle and ambivalent forms of prejudice. In this study we examined ways that young people, university students at the Republic of Cyprus formulated favourable arguments that constructed only at first appearance supportive representations of SSP. Methods: Data were collected in 2021–2022, through 11 focus group discussions with undergraduate and graduate students (26 females and 16 males, 18–27 years old), of different fields of study. Following the principles of discursive/rhetorical analysis, we identified three argumentative lines, all of which included contrasts and comparisons. Results: The first argumentative line juxtaposed SSP to being raised in an orphanage, the second to irresponsible/disadvantaged (single) parenting and the third compared the upbringing of children in same-sex to that in heterosexual families. All arguments demonstrate a seemingly supportive stance towards SSP rights. Nevertheless, drawing on heteronormative norms, they construct SSP as "a lesser of two evils" and undermine seemingly positive attributes of same-sex families, through reference to children's exposure to adverse societal reactions. Policy Implications: We discuss the implications of the findings for SSP social recognition and for sexual citizenship. We also discuss the implications of this approach for attitude research on the topic, underscoring the ideological implications of 'attitudinal discourse'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The study focuses on the issue of same-sex parenting in Italy, one of the few Western countries where it is not legally permitted. The aim of the research is to collect the experience of parents who have had a child abroad through reproduction and/or gestation procedures not ratified and recognized by the national legal system. Methods: The research involved 32 same-sex parents, specifically 22 mothers (Mage = 41.3; SD = 6.5) and 10 fathers (Mage = 43.8; SD = 7.4) of at least one child. Data were collected in the first part of 2022, using a narrative interview designed to collect parents' representation of same-sex parenting in Italy. The interviews were analyzed using Emotional Textual Analysis, a text mining methodology for tracing the emotional dimensions of text. Results: The factorial analysis generated four thematic clusters (1—loneliness; 2—denied rights; 3—starting a family; and 4—future of LGBTQ+ liberation process) and two factors (1—minority stress; 2—conservatorism). Conclusions: The results highlight a strong cultural backwardness in Italy on LGBTQ+ parental rights. Participants experience the desire and the practice of being parents within a cultural framework that, in the absence of legislative norms that protect these forms of generativity, emphasizes their sense of difference and isolation. Policy Implications: Future policies should be concerned with the need for cultural and legislative advances, supported by progressive movements and associations, as well as the development of psychological-clinical settings capable of supporting an emotional position in the parents based on trust about the context and the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is an interpretative phenomenological analysis of same-sex couples' decision-making process and experience when starting a family. Four same-sex couples with children participated in virtual semi-structured interviews. There is limited sociological research offering in-depth analysis of the relationship between sexual minority identities and the motivations, desires, and experiences of parenthood. This research reveals an array of complexities in the timing of parenthood. Participants also discuss the importance of financial and relationship stability before starting a family and the challenges and uncertainties throughout their unique adoption and IVF journeys. Moreover, participants reported the ongoing impact of the institutions of, and assumptions underpinning, heteronormativity on their experiences as a family, as well as the coping mechanisms they employed to counteract the consequences of heteronormativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The study of attitudes towards homosexuality and same-sex parenting has employed multiple strategies to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. In this article, we analyze comments on public social media that arose following the release and controversy surrounding a scene featuring a kiss between two women in the movie Lightyear, released in 2022. The objective of this article was to identify attitudes and the main arguments that people provide in favor or against homosexuality and same-sex parenting. Methodology: Digital and print media outlets in Ecuador that published news about the movie were identified. A sample of 707 comments was extracted and a content analysis of the comments was conducted. Results: The number of 335 comments were opposing homosexuality and same-sex parenting, 23 supporting, Seven themes were identified: child protection, social aspects, imposition and indoctrination, double standards, religious arguments, attitudinal ambiguity, and biological reproduction and nature. The arguments, among other things, reveal a high concern for the well-being of children associated with beliefs about the origin of sexual orientation, the role of adults in protecting children from what is considered abnormal, and the role of families in filtering the content their children should watch. Discussion y Conclusions: There is rejection towards homosexuality and samesex parenting that is based on negative views of sexual and family diversity, socially propagated theories about sexual orientation, the role of the family, and child development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irish law allows for some LGBTQI + parents to be jointly recognized as legal parents of their children, but legal recognition is dependent on the mode of conception of the child and, as a result, many LGBTQI + parent families cannot secure full legal recognition of their families. Because these families fall outside of the legally recognized parenting pathways, limited empirical research has been conducted to understand their experiences. This article presents the findings of a survey that was conducted with 99 Irish LGBTQI + parents to investigate the nuances of, and legal difficulties faced by, the families in obtaining legal recognition of their family relationships. The article presents the findings of a bivariate descriptive analysis that was used to analyze the quantitative data and a thematic analysis used to examine the qualitative open-ended comments. The results serve to identify the difficulties experienced by respondents in obtaining legal recognition of their family relationships in Ireland. Following this analysis, the article considers how Irish law might better respond to the reality of these parenting arrangements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study explores the perceptions of adoption social workers in Greece regarding same-sex couples' right to adopt. All 15 participants stressed that they always take the child's best interest into consideration when assessing prospective parents; however, very different interpretations were evident regarding what this best-interest principle entails if a same-sex couple were to be the prospective adoptive parents. Four participants expressed their full support for same-sex adoption, four were firmly against it, while the rest focused on expressing their reservations. Implications for social work practice and social work education are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research found that those who believe sexual orientation is inborn have generally positive attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women. However, other studies have also found that these beliefs could include negative eugenic ideas. This study aims to investigate the role of people’s beliefs about the aetiology of sexual orientation in attitudes toward adoption for both gay and lesbian couples in Italy. We hypothesized that this relationship would be mediated by sexual prejudice. To test the predictions, 256 Italian heterosexual participants were asked to answer questions on a scale about their beliefs regarding the aetiology of sexual orientation, sexual prejudice, and attitudes toward adoption by same-sex couples. Results confirmed that the relationship between aetiology beliefs and support for adoption by gay and lesbian couples was fully mediated by sexual prejudice. These results suggest that the belief that sexual orientation is controllable may serve to justify one’s prejudice and, in turn, result in a lower support for same-sex couples’ adoption.

Taiwan is the first country in Asia to recognize the legal rights of same-sex couples to get married. Although same-sex marriage has been legal in Taiwan since May 2019, the same-sex marriage family was not allowed to adopt child legally; only stepchild adoption was permitted. This is still a very controversial issue, so this study intended to understand the views of Taiwanese college students, whose voices should be heard and whose opinions should be valued by legislators. To investigate this issue, a questionnaire was constructed, and 440 objects were collected. The questionnaire regarding attitudes toward same-sex marriage adoption consisted of three dimensions: "Worry and against", "Idea Recognition" and "Action Support". Each dimension has good reliability. The internal consistent coefficients (Cronbach's α) were 0.86, 0.93, and 0.94. The responses reveal that college students in Taiwan have a relatively positive attitude towards same-sex marriage adoption, and college students who are biologically female, non-heterosexual, non-Christian, major in social work, and are acquainted with the LGBT community have more positive attitudes. College students' same-sex marriage and adoption attitudes can be predicted by biological sex, sexual orientation, religion, grade, whether they major in social work, have contact experience with the LGBT community, contact experience with adoption, and same-sex parenting concepts. The same-sex parenting concept is the most important predictor variable, which means that the judgment about whether same-sex marriage couples can bear the responsibility of raising children is the most critical factor affecting the attitude of same-sex marriage adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research found that those who believe sexual orientation is inborn have generally positive attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women. However, other studies have also found that these beliefs could include negative eugenic ideas. This study aims to investigate the role of people's beliefs about the aetiology of sexual orientation in attitudes toward adoption for both gay and lesbian couples in Italy. We hypothesized that this relationship would be mediated by sexual prejudice. To test the predictions, 256 Italian heterosexual participants were asked to answer questions on a scale about their beliefs regarding the aetiology of sexual orientation, sexual prejudice, and attitudes toward adoption by same-sex couples. Results confirmed that the relationship between aetiology beliefs and support for adoption by gay and lesbian couples was fully mediated by sexual prejudice. These results suggest that the belief that sexual orientation is controllable may serve to justify one's prejudice and, in turn, result in a lower support for same-sex couples' adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Question: What are the experiences of same-sex mothers following identity-release sperm donation regarding equal treatment in society, parenting stress and disclosure to child?Summary Answer: Mothers predominantly reported equal treatment in society, low levels of parenting stress and early disclosure of the donor conception to the child, and half of the couples had also informed the child of his/her right to obtain the donor's identity.What Is Known Already: The number of two-mother families is increasing, and previous studies have reported about challenges related to heteronormativity, discrimination and the status of the non-birth mother. Same-sex mothers have been found to disclose the child's donor conception earlier than different-sex parents, but little is known regarding disclosure of the child's right to obtain identifying information about the donor.Study Design, Size, Duration: The present study concerns the fourth wave of data collection of a nation-wide longitudinal study. A total of 143 same-sex mothers (73% response rate) following identity-release sperm donation completed individual surveys when their donor-conceived child had reached age 7. These women represent a total of 82 couples who had undergone sperm donation treatment.Participants/materials, Setting, Methods: The study is part of the longitudinal Swedish Study on Gamete Donation (SSGD). Couples accepted for gamete donation treatment at seven Swedish University hospitals were recruited between 2005 and 2008 and were requested to complete postal surveys during four waves of data collection. The present study sample includes same-sex mothers who completed a survey when their donor-conceived child had reached 7 years of age. Data were collected with the Swedish Parenting Stress Questionnaire (SPSQ), and study-specific items on experiences of treatment in society and disclosure behavior. Group comparisons (birth mothers vs non-birth mothers) were conducted using Chi2-tests, independent t-tests and Mann-Whitney U-tests, and written comments provided for open-response items were analyzed by qualitative content analysis.Main Results and Role Of Chance: The mothers were generally open about the child's donor conception and the large majority (>80%) reported being treated positively and in the same way as other parents. However, satisfaction with treatment in health care settings was significantly lower than that reported in contacts with the child's school and recreational activities (P < 0.001) and open-response comments indicate that this may be related predominantly to heteronormative language and assumptions. Birth mothers and non-birth mothers reported similar treatment in society and similar levels of parenting stress. All but one couple had already talked with their 7-year-old child about his/her conception with donor sperm. Half of the couples had also informed the child about his/her opportunity to obtain identifying information about the donor, and remaining couples planned later disclosure. Children's reactions were generally described as neutral, positive or characterized by interest and curiosity.Limitations, Reasons For Caution: The present study was performed within the context of the Swedish legislation on identity-release donation, which limits the generalizability to same-sex couples using anonymous or known sperm donors. Although no evidence of attrition bias was found, it is possible that those couples who initially declined participation in the SSGD (23%) or dropped out at the fourth wave of data collection (27%) differ from the study sample in terms of variables that we were unable to control for.Wider Implication Of the Findings: The present finding that most same-sex mothers in a population-based sample experience equal treatment in society is encouraging and validates previous results from predominantly qualitative studies. Nevertheless, the fact that a subgroup experiences discrimination and less favorable treatment indicates that further action is needed, particularly in child health care settings. The present study is the first to report on the timing of parents' disclosure of the child's right to identifying donor information and suggests that disclosure during preschool ages is feasible and does not appear to be related to negative consequences. In view of the increased availability and use of identity-release donation, there is a pressing need to investigate parents' intentions, behaviors and needs with regard to talking with their child about his/her opportunity to obtain the donor's identity.Study Funding/competing Interest(s): Financial support from the Swedish Research Council (2013-2712) and the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (2014-00876). There are no conflicts of interest to declare.Trial Registration Number: N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Italy, the recent law 76/2016 allows the legitimation of a gay or lesbian couple's union only through access to civil union but not to so-called stepchild adoption of children born to a same-sex couple through medically assisted procreation technologies (MAP). Nevertheless, the increasing number of lesbian and gay couples deciding to transform their desire to have children into action, makes it essential that professionals working in the public child and family sector be prepared and capable of providing suitable services for both heterosexual couples and gay and lesbian couples. This research intends to explore the view of same-sex parenting in a group of Public Family Counselling Services professionals (psychologists and social workers) working in Northeast Italy. The results show that there are very few gay and lesbian parents calling on public family support services and a lack of specific training for professionals. There is still a strong degree of conservatism among the interviewees who consider parenting a female domain, showing greater acceptance for lesbian parents than gay ones. More generally, the absence of one gender in parental couples, the need to use MAP, the risk of stigmatization, and a dearth of social networks are considered relevant risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the theoretical framing of structural ambivalence, which points to how competing cultural norms can cause conflict in family relationships, this paper asks: how does the transition to parenthood affect the intergenerational family relationship between LBQ adult women and their heterosexual mothers? Analyzing qualitative data from interviews with three adult child-parent dyads, we discuss how two cultural norms manifest in these relationships: pronatalism, or the privileging of procreation and heteronormativity, or the privileging of heterosexuality. In some ways, the intergenerational family relationship is strengthened as both LGB daughters and their heterosexual mothers express that the grandchild resulted in their becoming closer and developing a better understanding of one another. Yet the intergenerational family relationship is also strained as both members express that new conflicts arose within their relationship over issues such as how to refer to the donor or how to explain the LBQ-parent family to other family members. Mothers often felt put in an intermediary role between family members who did not approve of the LBQ parent's sexuality and families. We discuss the implications of these findings in relation to sexuality and family scholarship and changing LGBTQ family dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intergroup contact is important to reduce prejudice toward sexual minorities. Yet little is known regarding how kindergarten teachers' contact experiences with sexual minority affect their attitudes toward sexual minorities and their beliefs regarding same-sex family parents' parenting skills and same-sex family children's adjustment. This cross-sectional study recruited kindergarten teachers ( n  = 261; mean age = 38.8 years) in Taiwan in 2021-2022. A self-reported online questionnaire was administered which included questions about quantity and quality of contact experiences with lesbians, gay men (LG) and same-sex families, attitudes toward same-sex families, beliefs regarding same-sex parenting skills, and children's adjustment. Hierarchical multiple regression was used for analysis. The results showed that higher quality of contact with LG was associated with lower prejudice toward LG and with a more positive belief regarding same-sex parents' parenting skills and children's adjustment in same-sex families. The contact experience with same-sex families has an association with positive beliefs regarding same-sex family parents and children. After adjustment of quality of contact, quantity of contact did not show association with attitude toward LG or beliefs regarding same-sex family parents and children. The findings suggest that the quality of contact experience with LG is an important factor to reduce the stereotype against same-sex families.

School teachers today are increasingly coming into contact with lesbian and gay parents. Given the lack of research in the field, this study investigated the role of homonegativity and beliefs about the well-being of children raised by same-sex parents in how comfortable teachers feel when interacting with same-sex parents. Additionally, possible predictors of teachers' training needs regarding sexual orientation and same-sex parenting were explored. The sample consisted of 244 primary-school teachers. The results showed that 'personal discomfort' and 'beliefs about the welfare of children of lesbian and gay parents' were predictive of 'comfort in interacting with lesbian and gay families'. Seniority, having a high number of lesbian and gay friends and having positive 'beliefs about the welfare of children with lesbian and gay parents' are linked to recognising the need for training on lesbian, gay and same-sex parenting issues. Suggestions and implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current cross-sectional study examined Greek teachers' attitudes towards marriage equality and beliefs about children's adjustment in same-sex parent families. A total of 183 teachers participated in this study. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. Convenience sampling through teachers' social networks was utilised. This study's data were collected using two standardised instruments, attitudes toward same-sex marriage and children's adjustment in same-sex families. Correlation analysis was used to analyze the associations between the variables of this research. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis was utilised to analyze the relationship between predictor variables and the children's adjustment in same-sex families' instrument. A negative stance toward same-sex marriage was a significant predictor of negative attitudes towards children's adjustment in same-sex parent families. The role of personal and contextual factors in determining teachers' beliefs about same-sex parenting was partially supported. This study fills an important gap by examining attitudes towards same-sex parenting in a context that directly influences high school students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ethnologie Française is the property of Presses Universitaires de France and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective Social stigma has had harmful impacts on same‐sex families, and its ongoing perpetuation facilitates inequality in policy and practice. Research has consistently identified that people believe that there are negative developmental impacts on children raised by same‐sex parent families. These misconceptions about same‐sex parenting may be impacting attitudes toward same‐sex family rights. Given the connection between marriage and family, the aim was to investigate the effectiveness of an educational intervention that presents factual information about same‐sex parenting on attitudes toward sexual minority rights. Method To investigate this proposition, participants (n = 629) responded to an online survey, where they were randomly assigned to one of two conditions in an intervention where they were given either facts about smoking or facts about parenting (i.e., removing misconceptions about same‐sex parenting). Participants responded to pre‐ and post‐ items to assess the impact of the fact sheet attitudes toward same‐sex parenting and same‐sex marriage. Results Educating people about the misconceptions of same‐sex parenting significantly reduced prejudicial attitudes toward same‐sex parenting but not prejudicial attitudes toward same‐sex marriage. Post hoc analyses revealed that, after removing strong positive attitudes, a reduction in negative attitudes toward same‐sex marriage occurred among those who received information about same‐sex parenting. Conclusions The findings demonstrated the impact of educating people about same‐sex parenting and illustrated the importance of targeting people who hold prejudicial attitudes, comparative to those who have pre‐existing positive attitudes toward same‐sex families. The results of this study support the idea that intervening societal attitudes toward same‐sex parenting may reduce opposition to same‐sex family rights.

Taiwan is the first country in Asia to recognize the legal rights of same-sex couples to get married. Although same-sex marriage has been legal in Taiwan since May 2019, the same-sex marriage family was not allowed to adopt child legally; only stepchild adoption was permitted. This is still a very controversial issue, so this study intended to understand the views of Taiwanese college students, whose voices should be heard and whose opinions should be valued by legislators. To investigate this issue, a questionnaire was constructed, and 440 objects were collected. The questionnaire regarding attitudes toward same-sex marriage adoption consisted of three dimensions: “Worry and against”, “Idea Recognition” and “Action Support”. Each dimension has good reliability. The internal consistent coefficients (Cronbach’s α) were 0.86, 0.93, and 0.94. The responses reveal that college students in Taiwan have a relatively positive attitude towards same-sex marriage adoption, and college students who are biologically female, non-heterosexual, non-Christian, major in social work, and are acquainted with the LGBT community have more positive attitudes. College students’ same-sex marriage and adoption attitudes can be predicted by biological sex, sexual orientation, religion, grade, whether they major in social work, have contact experience with the LGBT community, contact experience with adoption, and same-sex parenting concepts. The same-sex parenting concept is the most important predictor variable, which means that the judgment about whether same-sex marriage couples can bear the responsibility of raising children is the most critical factor affecting the attitude of same-sex marriage adoption.

Copyright of Journal on Masculinities & Social Change / Masculinidades y Cambio Social is the property of Journal on Masculinities & Social Change / Masculinidades y Cambio Social and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Lesbian‐parented families challenge the heteronormative dominant discourse of family in major social institutions such as schools. This study explores Greek lesbian mothers' experiences and perceptions of their interaction with the school personnel and other parents. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse the data obtained through in‐person interviews with 14 lesbian mothers. The study revealed three overarching themes: (a) anticipating teachers' rejection, (b) non‐traditional family models are not addressed in school curricula, and (c) Managing disclosure. Participants' experiences of anticipated rejection, of hiding and concealing their family structure and sexual identity confirm that LGBTQ+ individuals live in a macro‐ and micro‐environmental context which adds to minority stress and produces essential new challenges. The findings of this study are discussed in the light of the institutional sources of minority stress that affect lesbian mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored Greek early childhood educators' attitudes towards same-sex marriage and same-sex parenting. It was hypothesized that participants with more negative attitudes towards same-sex parenting will have more negative attitudes towards same-sex marriage as well. The associations between these attitudes and demographic, psychological and personality variables were also examined. Two standardized scales, attitudes towards same-sex marriage scale (ATSSM) and children's adjustment in same-sex families (SBCASSF) were used to assess the educators' beliefs. Two hundred (200) early childhood educators participated in the study (Mage = 46.78, SD = 8.87). Results indicated that early childhood educators with more negative attitudes towards same-sex marriage were older, more experienced, highly religious, without any contact with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) individuals and had negative attitudes towards same-sex parenting. Multiple regression analysis showed that normative opposition (NO – subscale of SBCASSF) and contact with LGBTQ+ individuals were significant predictors of educators' attitudes towards same-sex marriage. The results of this study could have an impact on reducing prejudice towards same-sex parented families in the education systems and contribute to their social inclusivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Same-sex parenting remains controversial, with many arguing that it negatively impacts children's psychological and social development. This study investigated the influences of beliefs about the etiology of homosexuality (as either learned or genetic) and ambivalent sexism (benevolent and hostile) on beliefs about children's development in same-sex families. Methods: A Chinese sample of 1400 respondents completed an online questionnaire in March–July 2019 and February 2020. The respondents self-identified as gay (490), lesbian (256), heterosexual male (266), or heterosexual female (388). Participants' beliefs about children raised by same-sex parents were measured using the Scale on Beliefs about Children's Adjustment in Same-Sex Families which included two subscales, namely individual opposition and normative opposition. We tested four hypotheses using multiple analysis of variance and hierarchical multiple linear regression. Results: Respondents who were male, heterosexual, older, or had stronger beliefs in the learned etiology showed stronger individual and normative opposition to same-sex parenting. Overall, benevolent sexism was related to individual opposition; lesbians and gays' hostile sexism was related to individual opposition, while heterosexuals' hostile sexism was related to normative and individual opposition. Participants' individual opposition was significantly stronger than their normative opposition. Conclusions: Chinese lesbians, gays, and heterosexuals hold relatively conservative and traditional beliefs about children's development in same-sex families. Policy Implications: Our results suggest a need for legal and policy protection against prejudice and the dissemination of educational material about same-sex families through public service advertising and educational programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In France, surrogacy – known as 'Gestation Pour Autrui' (GPA) – is forbidden by law. The most ardent supporters of this practice are social anthropologists and some sociologists, many of them endorsing the political programme of activist groups and pushing forward new regulations to authorize surrogacy. The aim of this article is three-fold: (1) to analyse the place social anthropology has taken in the development of a discourse in favour of the practice; (2) to challenge the usefulness of comparisons with exotic societies; and (3) to deconstruct the semantic universe developed to hide the commoditization aspects of this practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decades of empirical research has demonstrated that same-sex parenting can produce outcomes that are, at least, comparable to hetero-normative parenting. Less research, however, has examined the common, process-oriented experiences of same-sex adoptive parents. To this end, the current study utilized qualitative interviewing techniques, with nine participants, to discern: (1) the ways in which lesbian and gay adoptive parents came to identify as a family, and (2) the ways in which family formation altered lesbian and gay adoptive parent identities. Collective identity theory helped frame the primary findings. While experiences as "lesbian" or "gay" prospectively informed participant conceptions of family, the paramount identity of "parent" retrospectively usurped all other collective identities. Implications for policy, practice, and future research are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In Portugal, despite recent changes in the legal system, the social recognition of same-sex parenting remains difficult. In addition, research on this topic is still in a process of affirmation and has focused primarily on social attitudes, being fundamental to know and understand the perspective of the families themselves. Objectives: Identify perspectives and experiences related to same-sex parenting. Methods: Seven lesbians and one gay man who were mothers/father in the context of a previous heterosexual relationship (n = 2) or in a planned lesbian family (n = 6) were interviewed. Their accounts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results: A view of increased responsibility in parenting emerged in the analysis, translated both in the reflection on and the management of external challenges, namely in parenting practices and in the construction of meaning directed to validate and affirm the family in the social context. Conclusion: The results contribute to a deeper understanding of experiences surrounding same-sex parenting in the Portuguese context, namely the internal and external resources the participants mobilize in order to adapt to the experienced/anticipated adversity. Implications for both families and professionals who work in this area are presented.

This study explored differences in psychological well-being as assessed by life satisfaction, parenthood satisfaction, depressive symptoms and the Big Five personality dimensions among 219 Israeli fathers; 76 gay men who had become fathers through a heterosexual relationship, 63 gay men who had become fathers through surrogacy, and 78 heterosexual men. After controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, gay fathers through surrogacy reported greater satisfaction with parenthood, greater satisfaction with their lives, and reported higher levels of extraversion when compared to heterosexual fathers. No significant differences emerged between the three groups on depressive symptoms, neuroticism, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness to experience. These findings emphasize the predominant similarities and some possible differences on psychological well-being between the different paths to fatherhood. This study is one of the first to compare several paths to fatherhood on psychological well-being, thus illuminating the contribution of fatherhood route to psychological well-being in an era where gay men are increasingly becoming fathers in diverse ways.

As there is a myriad of Anglophone picturebooks featuring same-sex parents, some Western readers familiar with them would probably see little that is ground-breaking in the visual and verbal narrative of Larysa Denysenko's and Mariia Foya's Maya and Her Mums (2017). The picturebook's first-person narrator and protagonist is a ten-year-old girl who describes her 16 classmates and their families; it includes no violence, no nudity, and no sexual references. Despite the title suggesting the story to be about the eponymous heroine and her family, Maya briefly introduces readers to her two mothers in one of the last doublespreads. When Maya and Her Mums was included in the programme of Ukraine's most important book fair, the Lviv Book Forum, it became a political tool in the confrontation between homophobic Ukrainian nationalists and progressive intellectuals. In this essay, I want to examine the depiction of same-sex parenting in Maya and Her Mums and argue that it implies gradual widening of tolerance, with households headed by lesbian parents being the most controversial. Thus, the picturebook suggests that the definition of the family is stretchable, even in a conservative socio-political climate. By familiarising readers with Denysenko's and Foya's picturebook, I want to show what makes it different from equivalent Anglophone picturebooks and argue that the Ukrainian book market is slowly becoming more inclusive and diverse. Hence, despite the conservative backlash, the need for for same-sex parents and their children to be represented in children's literature can no longer be ignored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formerly heterosexually partnered gay fathers raised with religion are an under-researched group of LGBTQ parents. This group have potentially complex coming out journeys, which can result in them seeking counselling. This research qualitatively explores the counselling experiences of 12 such men and offers suggestions for working therapeutically with them. The key finding of the qualitative analysis of the participants' interviews was that they wanted therapists to not assume a "best" outcome for them as either gay or "straight". Instead, they wanted therapists to respect and assist them to explore their own individual sense-making around their identities and to reject fixed notions from both ex-gay and gay affirmative therapy of what it means to be a "well-adjusted" gay father. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the effects of four higher-order values (openness to change, selftranscendence, conservation, and self-enhancement; Schwartz's model) on attitudes toward both samesex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples. Furthermore, the mediation effect of state secularism in the relationship between values and attitudes toward gay and lesbian civil rights was assessed. Participants were Spanish university students who completed a questionnaire. The results showed that state secularism, self-transcendence, and openness to change positively correlated with both attitudes investigated, whereas conservation and self-enhancement negatively correlated with both types of attitude. Moreover, state secularism mediated the relationship between conservation and self-transcendence and attitudes toward both same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite the legal recognition of gay men's right to marry and form families in numerous countries, they remain at risk of mental health impacts from prejudice. This novel experimental study aimed to harness social influence theory to improve heterosexuals' attitudes towards gay parents. Method: Three hundred and forty-seven community members (Mage = 38.7 years, 52% male) and 249 university students (Mage = 19.9 years, 42% male) volunteered for an online quasi-experiment in mid-2018. Participants were randomly allocated to reading a vignette that contained either a highly supportive group attitude about gay parents, a less supportive group attitude about gay parents or an unrelated filler-task. Results: The study found that (i) exposure to a high-support condition improved individuals' attitudes towards the social context of gay parents, compared to baseline, within the student sample; (ii) males reported significantly less positive attitudes towards gay parents than females in the community sample; and (iii) religiosity significantly moderated attitudes towards gay parents' parenting skills among those in the baseline condition and not among those the high-support condition, in both samples. Conclusion: The findings suggest that group attitudes can be harnessed to mitigate the negative relationship between higher religiosity and individual attitudes towards gay parents. The findings are important in the aftermath of divisive debates about legalising same-sex marriage and parenting. The study findings point to the potential for religious groups to share overtly supportive group messages about gay parents, rather than staying silent, in order to prevent the harms of prejudice towards this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents results of a qualitative study of blended lesbian‐headed families with children from previous same‐sex relationships. Conducted in partnership with the LGBT Family Coalition, this study adopts an ecosystemic approach to document the experiences of parental separation and family blending of 17 (n = 17) lesbian mothers and stepmothers in the province of Quebec, Canada. The challenges these women face in these periods of transition, particularly in terms of post‐separation co‐parenting and family reorganization, are analysed with particular concern for the daily stresses of heterosexism and membership in a sexual minority. Various strategies used to overcome these challenges, the positive outcomes of creating blended families and the stepmother's place and role within the family are examined. A discussion of the support and intervention needs of these families concludes the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though studies have shown that the sexual orientation of parents does not influence their parenting skills or the well-being of their children, prejudice against same-sex families is still very widespread. Research has not sufficiently explored the ways in which parents tackle this prejudice. Using qualitative methodologies, in particular textual analyses, this study has analysed the discourse used by same-sex families to handle the prejudices that they face. The results highlighted that conflicts, which may even be ideological in nature, are sometimes created between traditional families and "atypical" families. These often result in estrangement and isolation from their own family and the communities to which they belong, in turn damaging the growth of the children involved. Furthermore, means for moving beyond conflict, sharing experiences and effectively tackling prejudices are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Social stigma has had harmful impacts on same‐sex families, and its ongoing perpetuation facilitates inequality in policy and practice. Research has consistently identified that people believe that there are negative developmental impacts on children raised by same‐sex parent families. These misconceptions about same‐sex parenting may be impacting attitudes toward same‐sex family rights. Given the connection between marriage and family, the aim was to investigate the effectiveness of an educational intervention that presents factual information about same‐sex parenting on attitudes toward sexual minority rights. Method: To investigate this proposition, participants (n = 629) responded to an online survey, where they were randomly assigned to one of two conditions in an intervention where they were given either facts about smoking or facts about parenting (i.e., removing misconceptions about same‐sex parenting). Participants responded to pre‐ and post‐ items to assess the impact of the fact sheet attitudes toward same‐sex parenting and same‐sex marriage. Results: Educating people about the misconceptions of same‐sex parenting significantly reduced prejudicial attitudes toward same‐sex parenting but not prejudicial attitudes toward same‐sex marriage. Post hoc analyses revealed that, after removing strong positive attitudes, a reduction in negative attitudes toward same‐sex marriage occurred among those who received information about same‐sex parenting. Conclusions: The findings demonstrated the impact of educating people about same‐sex parenting and illustrated the importance of targeting people who hold prejudicial attitudes, comparative to those who have pre‐existing positive attitudes toward same‐sex families. The results of this study support the idea that intervening societal attitudes toward same‐sex parenting may reduce opposition to same‐sex family rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Czech society has been increasingly more liberal toward LGBTI individuals and their parenting rights, although the Czech legislative system still does not treat same-sex couples equally to heterosexual couples. Attitudes of professionals who work with children and families are particularly important, as prejudice might be harmful in these circumstances. The present study aimed to evaluate the attitudes of future psychologists, participants were 164 psychology students from a university in Prague, the Czech Republic. They were presented with a vignette depicting a situation of a couple in a restaurant with their 4-year-old son who gets upset during the meal. The vignette was followed by a set of Likert scale items evaluating the parents' and the child's behaviour. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the eight versions of the vignette varying by the way how the couple solved the situation, the sexual orientation of the parents, and the gender of the acting parent. Overall, the couples were rated more favourably in the positive parenting situation than in the negative, and participants evaluated gay and lesbian parents more favourably than heterosexual parents. Results are discussed taking into account specific sample characteristics and the social climate regarding LGBTI rights in the Czech society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While family forms are ever more diverse, there are few critical analyses of the ways in which LGBTQ families have been represented in fiction. This article explores recent Italian novels by Cristiana Alicata, Melania Mazzucco and Chiara Francini that depict lesbian and gay parents and their children. In all these novels at least one gay or lesbian parent dies. Drawing on Judith Butler's work on mourning and melancholia, I problematize the persistent spectre of grief and loss attached to gay and lesbian parenting. However, reflections by Heather Love also prompt me to explore what Love calls a "politics of damage", or an attempt to see past the looming threat of inevitable homosexual doom towards the queer, subversive elements of these narratives, which question normative conceptions of the family and open up space to reflect on 'alternative' parental models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]