Explain, label, or ignore? Exploring LGBTQ-parent families’ communication about family identity

ABSTRACT

People and policies in the United States have become more affirming of LGBTQ individuals, yet LGBTQ parents face ongoing challenges in the heteronormative, cisnormative family space. The current study identifies contexts in which LGBTQ parents perceive their family identity to be non-normative and examines parents’ psychological and communicative responses in such contexts, including how parents address family identity with non-family members and with their children. Twenty-five LGBTQ parents provided written responses to open-ended prompts. Thematic analysis found that a range of social and institutional contexts prompted parents to perceive their family identity as non-normative – a generally negative psychological experience for the parents. To manage family identity-related communication with non-family members, parents primarily enacted the strategies ignoring/avoiding, explaining/discussing, and labeling. Parents tended to use the strategy narrating to communicate about family identity with their children, who expressed understanding in response. Results demonstrate the salience of non-normative family identity for many LGBTQ parents and the variety of strategies LGBTQ parents use to manage potentially challenging communication within and outside of the family. Findings also provide insight into children’s communication with parents in such contexts. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Family communication
• LGBTQ
• identity management
• parenting
• qualitative research

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Traci K. Gillig

Traci K. Gillig, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Communication at Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. Gillig’s research interests are in the psychological, social, and structural factors influencing the well-being of youth, particularly those from marginalized groups.

Jared T. Macary

Jared T. Macary, MA, is a doctoral candidate at University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication. Macary’s research interests are in visual and environmental communication focusing on wildfire.

Larry P. Gross

Larry P. Gross, PhD, is a Full Professor of Communication at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Gross’s research interests are in visual and cultural communication, and he helped found the field of gay and lesbian studies.