‘Not a big deal’? exploring the accounts of adult children of lesbian, gay and trans parents

Abstract

Most literature on lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans families has focused on the psychological and social well-being of school aged children with lesbian, gay and trans (LGT) parents. The aim of the present study was to explore how the adult children of LGT parents make sense of their families. The study focused both on recollections of childhood and on current feelings and experiences. Thirteen women and 1 man completed either an email interview or an online qualitative survey; the data were analysed using thematic analysis. The participants’ accounts were protective of their parents and often drew on the normalizing discourses evident in pro-gay rhetoric about LGT parenting to minimize the significance of their parents’ sexuality/gender identity and the ‘taint of difference’ associated with LGT families. At the same time, the participants strongly challenged heterosexist and homophobic/transphobic assumptions about LGT families and viewed the source of any difficulties they and their parents experienced as resulting from a hetero/cisnormative social context that prevented LGT people and their families from living openly and authentically without fear of discrimination. The results highlight the continuing micro impacts of hetero/cisnormativity in the lives of LGT people and their families.

Keywords:

• cisnormativity
• email interviews
• heteronormativity
• heterosexism
• qualitative survey
• thematic analysis

Acknowledgements

Thanks to our participants for sharing their experiences with us and to Nikki Hayfield for research assistance with the literature review.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Victoria Clarke

Victoria Clarke is an Associate Professor in Sexuality Studies in the Department of Health and Social Sciences at the University of the West of England, UK. [[email protected]]

Eleni Demetriou

Eleni Demetriou graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of the West of England in 2011. Her project was supervised by Victoria Clarke.