Unequal rights between LGBTQ parents living in the U.S.: The association of minority stress to relationship satisfaction and parental stress.

Abstract

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals who become parents in the United States may not be granted legal recognition as parents upon beginning their families, which can result in inequality in parenting rights between partners. In an online survey with 420 LGBTQ parents who were living with a partner with whom they had cocreated a family and had at least one child under age 18, we explored whether parents in couples with unequal rights (N = 113) report minority stress, and whether minority stress was related to relationship dissatisfaction and parental stress. Explored through a mediated path model, parents in couples with unequal rights reported less disclosure about LGBTQ identity and more worry about family discrimination in comparison with parents in couples with full rights. Furthermore, these minority stressors were related to relationship dissatisfaction and associated with parental stress. Unequal rights, accompanied by worry about discrimination and lower reported outness, may put a strain on the couple relationship, which, in turn, may be associated with parental stress. Advocacy efforts should be employed to reduce obstacles to full parentage rights for LGBTQ families. Clinical implications for working with LGBTQ parents with discrepant rights are discussed.

The procreative identities of men in same‐sex relationships choosing surrogacy: A new theoretical understanding

“…Some gay men view surrogacy as a guaranteed pathway to children that is more desirable than adoption or co-parenting (Norton et al, 2013). The uncertainty of adoption may be driven, in part, by limited LGBT affirming policies and practices of agencies, many of which are controlled by faith-based organizations that deem marriage equality and same-sex parenthood immoral; a practice largely witnessed across the United States (Farr & Goldberg, 2018;Horne et al, 2021;Kazyak et al, 2018). Some men in same-sex relationships have experienced parenting loss through previous unsuccessful surrogacy practices or failed adoption.…”

“…Men who have pursued surrogacy in the context of a same-sex relationship have also reported a desire for closeness with the surrogate's family, including her spouse and children. This may be indicative of potential rejection from family, friends, and acquaintances (Horne et al, 2021). The decision to parent may exacerbate familial rejection among those who were unaccepting in early adolescence or young adulthood of their sexual minority identity (Blake et al, 2017).…”

Diversified Innovations in the Health Sciences - Proposal for a Diversity Minimal Item Set (DiMIS)

“…The economic and health impacts of care work are known to intersect with gender, sexual orientation, and age. Women, trans and non-binary people with children experience more physical, mental, and psychological stress relative to cis men [38,39]. Older LGBTQI+ caregivers play an important role in informal care provision [40].…”

Underscoring risk and resilience factors in sexual and gender minority relationships from theory to practice.

“…Since February 2011, 11 states have restricted access to foster and adopt children in circumstances where to a couple’s identity conflicts with the religious beliefs of the agency (American Civil Liberties Union, 2020). Bearing this in mind, Horne et al (2022) examined how differential rights between partners were associated with indicators of minority stress and relationship satisfaction. These authors used a sample of 420 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and quee (LGBTQ) parents with at least one child living at home, wherein 51 participants did not have legal guardianship of their child and 62 had partners without such rights.…”

“…These articles call for a translation from research to practice and policies that provide strong protection for SGM individuals, including in housing, the workplace, and access to services. This is especially evident in research on SGM individuals becoming parents, and how parents’ unequal rights may be associated with relationship satisfaction and dynamics (Horne et al, 2022).…”