A queer feminist lens is used to present a selected review of the demographic and descriptive literature related to how same-sex couples in the United States begin and dissolve relationships. We argue that despite research suggesting a uniformity of same-sex coupling that reflects a heteronormative nuclear family, there is actually great diversity in same-sex relationships. As legal recognition of same-sex couples increases from state to state, however, the dissolution of same-sex relationships has become as challenging as legally establishing them. This review explores several current cases representing the
This Internet-based study used data from a convenience sample of 176 gay men in current partnerships to examine differences in outness, cohesion, and relationship quality between three types of gay male couples: first cohabiting partnerships, repartnerships, and gay stepfamilies. Also, we tested whether relationship quality mediated the link between outness and cohesion and the moderating role of type of relationship. Results showed that those in first cohabiting partnerships had the lowest levels of relationship quality and cohesion, whereas those in gay stepfamilies reported having the highest levels of relationship quality and those in repartnerships reported the highest levels of cohesion. For all couples, the link between outness and cohesion was partially mediated by relationship quality, and this was moderated for those in repartnerships.
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