Gay and Lesbian Families

Allen, K.R., & Demo, D.H. (1995). The families of lesbians and gay men: A new frontier in family research. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 57, 111-127.
A review of 8,000 articles examining the prevalence of and type of research on lesbian and gay families. Overall little research has been completed on this type of family. Research directions are offered.

Bigner, J.J., & Bozett, F.W. (1990). Parenting by gay fathers. In F.W. Bozett & M.B. Sussman (Eds.), Homosexuality and family relations (pp. 155-176). New York: Harrington Park Press.
The role of father for a gay man is examined. Identify formation, relationship with children, and parenting abilities are considered. Implications for policy and practice are offered.

Ben-Ari, A. (1995). The discovery that an offspring is gay: Parents’, gay men’s, and lesbians’ perspectives. Journal of Homosexuality, 30, 89-112.
Examines the family dynamics that occur during the “coming out” process for lesbians and gay men. Stages for the process are offered. Fears of coming out and motivations for coming out were themes among the research.

Blumstein, P. & Schwartz, P. (1983). American couples: Money, work, sex. New York: William Morrow.
Extensive research study that examined the relationships of lesbian, gay men, and heterosexual couples. Expectations for the couples, day-to-day living arrangements, and values of the couples are examples of some of the study questions.

Chambers, D.L. (1996). What if? The legal consequences of marriage and the legal needs of lesbian and gay male couples. Michigan Law Review, 95, 447-491.
Examines legal matters, including consequences of marriage, and how they pertain to lesbian and gay male couples. Suggestions for changes in law to better support these couples are offered.

Cohen, K.M., & Savin-Williams, R.C. (1996). Developmental perspectives on coming out to self and others. In R.C. Savin-Williams & K.M. Cohen (Eds.), The lives of lesbians, gays and bisexuals: Children to adults (pp. 113-151). New York: Harcourt Brace.
Examines in-depth the coming out process for lesbian and gay male youths. Initial feelings of “difference,” parent reactions, and the self-esteem of the youths are considered. Role models and media perceptions are offered as ways to encourage positive self-concept among these adolescents.

Erera, P.I., & Fredricksen, K. (1999). Lesbian stepfamilies: A unique family structure. Families in Society 80(3), 263-270.
Lesbian stepfamilies are examined within the context of stepfamilies, specifically looking at similarities and differences between these family forms. Practice suggestions are offered for working with this specific type of family.

Green, R.J., Bettinger, M., & Zacks, E. (1996). Are lesbian couples fused and gay male couples disengaged? Questioning gender straightjackets. In J. Laird & R.J. Green (Eds.), Lesbians and gays in couples and families: A handbook for therapists (pp. 185-227). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Three assumptions held by mental health professionals about lesbian and gay male couples are theorized through research. Offers new perspectives and lenses when viewing lesbian and gay male couples.

Greene, B. (1994). Ethnic minority lesbians and gay men: Mental health and treatment issues. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 243-251.
Explores the strengths and vulnerabilities of the unique experience of lesbian and gay men who are also of an ethnic minority. Research literature is consulted. Considerations for therapists working with this population are offered.

Hare, J. & Richards, L. (1993). Children raised by lesbian couples: Does context of birth affect father and partner involvement. Family Relations, 42(3), 249-256.
Children born in a heterosexual relationship are compared to children born in a lesbian relationship, examining father and lesbian partner involvement. The results varied depending on the context of the child’s birth. Practice implications are offered.

Harry, J. (1983). Gay male and lesbian relationships. In E.D. Macklin & R.H. Rubin (Eds.), Contemporary families and alternative life styles (pp.216-234). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Examines gay and lesbian relationships, including formation, prevalence, and demographics. Previous studies are utilized.

Huggins, S.L. (1989). A comparative study of self-esteem of adolescent children of divorced lesbian mothers and divorced heterosexual mothers. In F.W. Bozett (Ed.), Homosexuality and the family (pp. 123-135). New York: Harrington Park Press.
Compared the results of a self-esteem inventory for adolescent children of divorced lesbian mothers and divorced heterosexual mothers. Results show there is little difference between the self-esteem of these two groups. Children’s and their father’s reactions to their mother’s sexuality did affect the results.

Human Rights Campaign. (2001, August 22). Gay and lesbian families in the United States: Same-sex unmarried partner households. Retrieved September 1, 2003 from http://www.hrc.org/Content/ContentGroups/FamilyNet/Documents/
census.pdf.
A report that analyzes the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau data to give a modified prevalence of the lesbian and gay male population. Percentages on the number of undercounted lesbians and gay men are offered. Figures are provided for each state.

Kurdek, L. A. (1993). The allocation of household labor in gay, lesbian, and heterosexual married couples. Journal of Social Issues, 49(3), 127-140.
Gay male, lesbian, and heterosexual couples’ allocation of household labor was studied. Lesbian and gay male couples were more likely than heterosexual couples to evenly split household responsibilities.

Kurdek, L., & Schmitt, J. (1987). Perceived emotional support from family and friends in members of homosexual married and heterosexual cohabiting couples. Journal of Homosexuality, 14(3/4), 57-68.
Gay male couples, lesbian couples, heterosexual couples who are married, and cohabitating heterosexual couples were examined on factors that influence perception of emotional support from family and friends. Married couples received more emotional support from families than lesbian and gay male couples. Lesbian and gay male couples received more support from friends than family.

Laird, J. (1996). Family-centered practice with lesbian and gay families. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 77(9), 559-572.
The strengths and challenges of lesbian and gay families are examined through a cultural, constructionist, and narrative lens.

Oswald, R.F. (2002). Resilience within the family networks of lesbians and gay men: Intentionality and redefinition. Journal of Marriage and Family, 64, 374-383.
Lesbian and gay male family networks are examined through two strategies: intentionality and redefinition. Results find these networks provide strength and resiliency to family members.

Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. (n.d.). For families and friends. Retrieved September 1, 2003 from http://www.pflag.org/support/family.html.
This page on the Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays website offers support and education for family and friends of a lesbian or gay male.

Patterson, C.J. (1992). Children of lesbian and gay parents. Child Development, 63, 1025-1042.
Research on the social and personal development of children of lesbian and gay male parents is examined. There is little evidence that children from these families develop significantly differently from children raised by heterosexual parents.

Patterson, C.J. (1994). Children of the lesbian baby boom: Behavioral adjustment, self- concepts, and sex role identity. In B. Greene & G.M. Herek (Eds.), Lesbian and gay psychology: Theory, research, and clinical applications (pp. 156-175). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Demographics, family dynamics, and child development of children from lesbian families is explored. Results from a study of children from lesbian families is compared to other research results for children of similar ages from heterosexual families.

Patterson, C.J. (2000). Family relationships of lesbians and gay men. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 62, 1052-1069.
Reviews the research on lesbian and gay male couples, the relationships with their children, and their relationship with other family members. Results from this research are positive, but further research needs to be conducted.

Patterson, C.J. (2002). Lesbian and gay parenthood. In M.H. Bornstein (Ed.), Handbook of parenting: Being and becoming a parent (Vol. 3) (pp.317-338). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.
Research regarding lesbian and gay male parents are considered. A historical context is provided, as well as specific strengths and challenges for parents and their children. Directions for practice and policy are offered.

Paul, J.P., Hays, R.B., & Coates, T.J. (1995). The impact of the HIV epidemic on U.S. gay male communities. In A.R. D’Augelli & C.J. Patterson (Eds.), Lesbian, gay, and bisexual identities over the lifespan: Psychological perspectives (pp. 347- 397). New York: Oxford University Press.
Though observations and research findings, the impact of HIV and AIDS on the gay male community is examined. The impact is felt on four levels: individual, social, community, and societal.

Polikoff, N. (1990). This child does have two mothers: Redefining parenthood to meet the needs of children in lesbian-mother and other nontraditional families. Georgetown Law Journal, 78, 459-515.
In loco parentis doctrine and its effects on a lesbian and gay male families is considered. Custody, visitation, and adoption is not an easy legal task for lesbian and gay male families. Suggestions by lawyers for educating judges about homosexuality are offered.

Savin-Williams, R.C. (1990). Gay and lesbian youth: Expressions of identity. New York: Hemisphere.
Examines self-esteem of and the coming out process for lesbian and gay male youth. Empirical evidence is offered.

Savin-Williams, R.C. (1994). Verbal and physical abuse as stressors in the lives of lesbian, gay male, and bisexual youths: Associations with school problems, running away, substance abuse, prostitution, and suicide. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 261-269.
Research studies and clinical reports show a high number of violent acts against lesbian, gay male, and bisexual youths by their peers and adults. This violence is examined and offers suggested evidence that this is related to school problems, running away, substance abuse, prostitution, and suicide.

Savin-Williams, R.C. (1998a). The disclosure to families of same-sex attractions by lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 8, 49- 68.
The disclosure aspect of the “coming out” process is examined with empirical research. Differences between disclosures to mothers and fathers, rates of disclosures among siblings and extended family, and suggestions for further research is offered.

Savin-Williams, R.C. (1998b). Lesbian, gay and bisexual youths’ relationships with their parents. In C.J. Patterson & A.R. D’Augelli (Eds.), Lesbian, gay, and bisexual identities in families: Psychological perspectives (pp. 75-98). New York: Oxford University Press.
The parent-child relationship is examined for lesbian and gay youth. Minority families are given particular attention. Data indicates that family support is sought out when victimization and distress occurs.

Savin-Williams, R.C., & Esterbger, K.G. (2000). Lesbian, gay, and bisexual families. In D.H. Demo, K.R. Allen, & M.A. Fine (Eds.), Handbook of family diversity (pp.197-215). New York: Oxford University Press.
Examines the research regarding different types of lesbian, gay, and bisexual families. The coming out process for lesbian, gay, or bisexual children and parents is considered as well as family responses and adjustment to this process. Policies are examined and suggestions made.

Stacy, J. (2003). Gay and lesbian families: Queer like us. In M.A. Mason, A. Skolnick, & S.D. Sugarman (Eds.), All our families: New policies for a new century (pp. 144-169). New York: Oxford University Press.
Legal and policy issues pertaining to lesbian and gay male relationships are considered. The barriers to family planning and benefits of marriage are examined in detail.