Mom and Dad Come Out: The Process of Identifying as a Heterosexual Parent with a Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual Child

Abstract

Currently, there is a dearth of literature regarding the experiences of heterosexual parents with lesbian, gay, or bisexual identified sons or daughters. This manuscript will explore the experiences of 13 parents in 9 separate families who have adult sons or daughters who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. A qualitative study using grounded theory was conducted to investigate their experiences toward the “successful integration of their identity.” All parents in this study were defined as successful by their lesbian, gay, or bisexual identified child. Both the research results as well as the emergent model for parent success are presented in this article. Implications for clinical practice and future research are also discussed.