Psychology

Marriage (in)equality: The perspectives of adolescents and emerging adults with lesbian, gay, and bisexual parents

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The debate over whether same-sex couples should be allowed to enter into civil marriages continues in the United States. Forty-nine adolescents and emerging adults (ages 14-29) with lesbian, gay, and bisexual parents were interviewed for the current exploratory study, which examined how individuals perceived themselves and their families as being affected by marriage (in)equality, as well as the factors that shaped their perspectives. More than two thirds of participants voiced unequivocal support for marriage equality, citing numerous legal and symbolic benefits that their families were denied. One quarter of participants articulated critical perspectives of marriage or the fight for marriage equality, while also acknowledging the benefits associated with marriage. As the first study to examine the perspectives of individuals with lesbian, gay, and bisexual parents with regard to marriage (in)equality, this research has important implications for the marriage equality debate and provides a springboard for future studies on this topic. © National Council on Family Relations, 2012.

Publication Title

Journal of Marriage and Family

Publication Date

2012

Volume

74

Issue

1

First Page

34

Last Page

52

ISSN

0022-2445

DOI

10.1111/j.1741-3737.2011.00876.x

Keywords

adolescents, emerging adults, gay, lesbian, marriage, qualitative

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