Gay and lesbian parents with children from a previous heterosexual relationship: an Italian exploratory study.

Objective: The current study aimed to explore the experiences of Italian gay and lesbian parents with children from a previous heterosexual relationship. Methods: 34 gay fathers and 32 lesbian mothers were recruited (mean age ¼ 46.34 ± 7.87 years). Data on homosexuality awareness, reasons for marriage and parenthood, the coming out process to children, and the effects on the parent-child relationship were collected through an online survey. Results: Most participants reported not being aware of their homosexuality when they married and became parents. The two most common reasons for marriage were “love” and “social expectancy,” whereas parenthood was mainly motivated by the “desire for children and family.” Most participants came out to at least one child and reported a positive reaction. The parent-child relationship improved or remained unchanged after coming out. The most cited benefit of coming out was “openness/not hiding anymore”. Conclusion: Gay parenthood in Italy is a new area of research and the current study is an initial attempt to explore this topic. The present findings suggest that the lives of gay and lesbian parents are shaped by their sexual minority status as well as by societal heterosexism.