Challenging inequalities in LGBTQ parenthood
Parenthood among LGBTQ individuals in Europe reveals a complex and unequal landscape. Policies governing assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and adoption vary widely, creating disparities in access based on gender, sexual orientation and geography. In France, female couples and single women have had access to ART since 2021. However, male couples and single men remain excluded. Surrogacy is prohibited, and adoption (an already challenging process for many) is an almost unattainable option. Similar challenges exist across Europe, with a few exceptions such as Greece and Portugal, which permit surrogacy under certain circumstances. This scenario prompted the LGBTQ Parenthood project to investigate the policy effects on the family lives of gender and sexual minorities. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the research compared parenthood experiences between France and the United States. “Policies regarding LGBTQ parenthood are very important and shape people’s lives. The US is an interesting country because policies vary from state to state, but also because surrogacy is much more common than in Europe,” says Gaëlle Meslay, LGBTQ Parenthood project coordinator.
Two realities to achieving parenthood
The project revealed that countries with inclusive policies for assisted reproductive technologies and adoption provide LGBTQ individuals with a sense of legitimacy and a clearer path to parenthood, even if discrimination remains a reality. On the contrary, where legislation is more restrictive, these individuals struggle to have their desire to parent legitimised and often spend much time researching other options. One such alternative is ‘procreative migrations’, where individuals travel to other countries to access ART. “People who do not have access to parenthood in their own countries and who feel a deep desire to be parents may travel to try to achieve it by other means. But these trips are very expensive and therefore create great inequalities between people,” explains Meslay.
The health impacts of LGBTQ parenthood
The project also studied the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ adults in the United States, interviewing individuals with and without children. It investigated how their parenting journeys influenced other aspects of their lives. LGBTQ parents report higher stress levels and lower well-being. This includes discrimination experiences specifically related to parenthood encountered at school, with adoption agencies, in administrative institutions and on social networks. This ‘minority stress’, related to the specific discrimination LGBTQ parents face, has impacts beyond their mental health. The research revealed that they also report more physical health problems, including higher rates of heart disease.
Policies for an inclusive future
The findings of LGBTQ Parenthood highlight the urgent need for policies that support diverse family structures. A key recommendation is to reevaluate the ban on surrogacy in France and similar European countries. Allowing regulated surrogacy could provide LGBTQ couples, particularly male couples, with a viable path to parenthood. “Gender norms tend to associate parenthood and parental desires with femininity, while masculinity tends to be seen as antithetical to caring, parenting and nurturing,” states Meslay. “In Europe, several policies have been implemented to support men’s involvement in parenthood through parental leave and to reduce the gender gap. Helping male couples to access parenthood is another key aspect of this process.”
Keywords
LGBTQ Parenthood, assisted reproductive technologies, surrogacy, adoption, minority stress, procreative migrations, gender gap, LGBTQ families
