All Families Are Special: Experiences of Lesbian-Parented Families

Abstract

This study explores the lived experiences of members of lesbian-parented families incorporating a systemic perspective to include both the voices of mothers and their young children. Eight whole-family interviews were conducted with lesbian couples with at least one child in elementary school (aged 5–11). Six themes emerged from the study: intentionality in finding places to live and travel, having children, and having discussions with their children; views of themselves as advocates and being “out” in their communities; noticing how times are changing; identifying assumptions as a two-way street; perceptions of gender surrounding parenting and the salience of various identities; and the dialectical tension between wanting to be perceived as normal and wanting to acknowledge their uniqueness. Clinical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.