ABSTRACT
The notion of family has traditionally been intertwined with heterosexist assumptions. Not only does society generally presume children to be heterosexual unless otherwise specified, but also parents are presumed to be heterosexual. Only recently have gay and lesbian individuals begun to be acknowledged within the context of families. In the 1990s, research has focused on lesbian and gay couples (Kurdek, 1995; Peplau, Veniegas, & Campbell, 1996; Savin-Williams, 1996; Sherman, 1992; Weston, 1991) and on their families of origin (Allen & Demo, 1995; Newman & Muzzonigro, 1993). Research on lesbian mothers, gay fathers, and their children has also emerged, and a considerable research literature has accumulated (Patterson, 1995c, in press).
