Modern Famlies

My brother-in-law, Caleb, came out of the closet a year and a half ago. Emily, my sister, and Caleb knew w the future held uncertainty and they were going to have to work hard to make sure their son has a good childhood. They both took the necessary time to process things and work out certain details of their relationship in order to set healthy boundaries and still be friends. As of now, they are still married to each other but both have significant others and are all living together during the pandemic. They are all great friends and my nephew basically has four co-parents. My nephew loves it. 

In the past, LGBTQ+ parents faced a lot of apprehension and friction from others. Nowadays, it is more common to see LGBTQ+ families with children, whether they are from previous relationships or adopted. Adopting is easier but there are still some restrictions with certain states. Statistically, same-sex couples are just as, or more likely, to be poorer than heterosexual couples. Though gay and lesbian parents can face resistance and economic uncertainties, there are so many resources available to support families as well as the LGBTQ+ community.

Emily and Caleb faced their daunting future together and beauty has come out of their teamwork. My sister’s family of 4 co-parents is a good example of what a modern-day could family looks like. 

Course Concept Citation: Moore, Mignon R., and Michael Stambolis-Ruhstorfer. 2013. "LGBT Sexuality and Families at the Start of the Twenty-First Century." Modified with permission from the Anual Review of Sociology, Volume 39 © 2013 by Annual Reviews, http://annualreviews.com