ABSTRACT
A growing number of gay and lesbian divorced parents are gaining custody of their children from previous marriages and are bringing them into their new family with a same-sex partner, thus creating a gay stepfamily, which is a unique subset of stepfamilies that is often marginalized and neglected. It is difficult to estimate the number of gay stepfamilies. It is reasonable to assume that most gay men stepfamilies are noncustodial, while lesbian stepfamilies often have custody of children from previous marriages. Gay women stepfamilies are often custodial, if the lesbian mother managed to overcome the prejudice-driven denial of custody because of the mother’s homosexual lifestyle. Gay people are stigmatized by the general heterosexual society for their lifestyle. Homosexuality is the subject of continuing and long-standing social hostility. Antigay prejudices are not limited to any specific educational, cultural, or social group. Social stereotypes and prejudices toward homosexuals create an image of homosexuality as incompatible with a family.
