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Family and Relationships
Coming Out
"Coming out" is the revelation or acknowledgment that one is a member of a sexual minority, a process that is at once personal and social and often political.
Commitment Ceremonies
Similar to heterosexual weddings, commitment ceremonies of same-sex partnerships are legally recognized in some countries, but generally not in the United States.
Custody Litigation
While the courts of some states have been almost unremittingly hostile to gay men and lesbians involved in custody litigation, others have declared that glbtq parents have the same rights and responsibilities as other parents.
Domestic Partnerships
"Domestic partnership" is the generic term for a variety of forms of legal and institutional recognition of same-sex couples that fall short of same-sex marriage.
Domestic Violence
In the l980s, domestic violence advocates turned their attention to violence directed at, and within, the glbtq community, but much work still needs to be done.
Family
Many glbtq people reject a fixed definition of family imposed by society, and instead claim the right to define their own families as they choose.
Family Therapy
Glbtq family therapy is a relatively new field that merges gay-affirmative therapy with family systems theory; its goal is to help glbtq people create and maintain healthy families.
Grief
The experience of loss is a universal condition of humanity, but glbtq individuals may face particular challenges in finding support to help them in their grieving process.
Grief Resources
There are many excellent resources, both general and specifically tailored for glbtq individuals, which can assist in the process of healing after a bereavement or other major loss.
Kowalski, Sharon (b. 1956) and Karen Thompson (b. 1947)
The plight of Thompson and Kowalski brought into sharp focus an issue that many able-bodied gay men and lesbians had never considered: the importance of giving legal status to their chosen families.
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