Although they are a minority, same-sex relationships and families are growing in

acceptance and numbers in Australia, as well as in some other countries. Although

there is continuing support for this type of family, there are some issues that can affect
them. This can include social and legal issues.

Same-sex families consist of two people who are of the same sex in an intimate
relationship, who have at least one child living in the household, meaning a child in
this type of family has either two mothers or two fathers. The child (or children) in a
same-sex family may have been come from a previous heterosexual relationship of
one parent, been conceived through modern-day reproductive technology or have
been adopted by the homosexual couple.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, only 0.1% of children come from a
same-sex household (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012). As well as this, according
to a survey conducted by Leonard et al. (2011), 33% of lesbian females in same-sex
relationships had children, while 11% of gay males in same-sex relationships had
children. It is also shown, however, that 40% of bisexual males in a couple of the
same sex had children, compared with 25% of bisexual females in female-female
relationships. This indicates that lesbian females are more likely to have children than
gay men, but bisexual men are more likely to have children than bisexual women
(Leonard et al. 2011).

There are several social issues regarding same-sex couples and families. One of these
issues relate to the discrimination of being a part of a same-sex household. Although

there is growing acceptance for gay and lesbian relationships from Australians, there
are some still some discrimination against homosexuality from the wider community.
For example, some foster care agencies do not adopt the practice of allowing men and
women who are in same-sex relationships to be foster parents (Riggs 2011). Another
study conducted by Dempsey and Critchley (2010) found that Australians are not
entirely comfortable with same-sex couples using reproductive technologies (such as
donor insemination) to have children. Other discriminatory practices used against
non-heterosexuals include verbal and psychological abuse, physical violence and
harassment (Leonard et al. 2011).

Corboz et al. (2008) states that depression is more prevalent among the gay and
lesbian community than among the heterosexual community, which can be a result of
discrimination. There are some non-heterosexuals who have friends and family who
discriminate homosexuals and their practices. Without this social support, people in
the gay and lesbian community have a greater likelihood of developing depression. A
protective factor of this, however, is having a partner (Corboz et al. 2008).
A positive result of discriminatory practices by others is resilience. A study conducted
by Scourfield, Roen and McDermott (2008) showed that some who were the subject
of homophobic bullying and harassment were able to fight back, which in turn,
gave them the strength and ability to not be affected by those who tried to hurt them
with violence, whether it be verbal or physical abuse (Scourfield, Roen & McDermott
2008).

Children who come from same-sex families are also subject to discrimination. Some
health care workers have specific views about homosexuality, and it is reflected in

their practices. These health care professionals tend to treat children and their samesex parents differently from the children who have opposite sex parents. Attitudes like
this increase inequality through health care, and can result in poor service and care
(Nicol et al. 2013).
Although there can be negative implications of discrimination of children, there are
also positive implications. Dempsey (2013) argues that teenagers raised in same-sex
parented families were no more likely to have experiences serious bullying or
victimisation than their peers in conventional families. This means that adolescents
who have two lesbian mothers have the same likelihood of being bullied by
schoolmates as other adolescents, who come from traditional families. Teenagers
who have two lesbian mothers who are bullied, however, show resilience and coping
skills. These skills usually are more often adaptivethan maladaptive (Dempsey,
2013).

If a same-sex couple wish to start a family with their partner, an issue that they all
face is reproduction. One way of having children in a same-sex relationship is if at
least one partner already has had a child from a previous relationship (the other
partner being the opposite sex). If, however, neither partner has a child, the couple
must seek other ways of having children, one of these being Assisted Reproductive
Technologies (ART) (Dempsey & Critchley 2010). As well as this, adoption can also
be an option for people who are a part of same-sex couples.

Because marriage in Australia is defined as the union of a man and a woman to the
exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered to for life, same-sex couples are not

allowed to become legally married (Marriage Act 1961). Because of this, adoption in
Australia can be difficult for couples in same-sex relationships in some states.

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