Will I Marry if My Parents Can’t? Young Adults With LGB Parents Consider Marriage for Themselves

Abstract

Although an emerging body of research has examined lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults' attitudes and feelings about marriage, very little research has explored how their offspring view marriage. The current exploratory, qualitative, interview-based study of 35 adolescents and emerging adults (ages 15-28 years; mean age = 21 years) with LGB parents examines their attitudes about and desire for marriage. Results revealed that many participants endorsed romantic ideas about marriage and hoped to someday marry themselves. Other participants expected to marry, but solely for "pragmatic" reasons (i.e., legal/financial protections). Some participants expressed concerns about the institution of marriage, and therefore rejected marriage for themselvesalthough some conceded that they might marry if and when all LGB people were able to marry. Finally, a small group of participants expressed a desire to marry, but struggled with the idea of marrying when their LGB parents could not. These findings reveal great diversity in the marital desires of young adults with LGB parents, and highlight the various social contexts that ultimately shape their beliefs and intentions surrounding marriage.

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“…I published my findings in a series of papers that illustrated some of the unique dynamics and experiences associated with growing up with LGBTQ+ parents (e.g., Goldberg, 2007a, 2007b; Goldberg, Kinkler, et al, 2012). I also conducted subsequent research exploring ideas and intentions surrounding marriage among adults with LGBTQ+ parents—work that was strongly impacted by my long‐standing collaboration and friendship with Kate Kuvalanka, who also possesses insider experience as an adult child of a queer parent (e.g., Goldberg, 2014; Goldberg & Kuvalanka, 2012).…”