Exploration of kinship storytelling and identity formation in adults raised by LGBTQ parents
Queering the kinship story: constructing connection through LGBTQ family narratives (Garwood, 2023)
Garwood, E. (2023). Queering the kinship story: Constructing connection through LGBTQ family narratives. Feminist Theory, 24(1), 30-46. https://doi.org/10.1177/14647001211059521
Geographic Region: England and Scotland, United Kingdom
Research Question: How do adult children of LGBTQ parents understand and construct their kinship stories, particularly in relation to their parents' LGBTQ identities and broader LGBTQ histories?
Design: Qualitative study using biographical narrative interviews conducted in England and Scotland during 2017-2018 and 2020-2021. Combined thematic and narrative analysis.
Sample: 22 adults (ages 19-59) who identified as being raised by at least one LGBTQ parent. Family configurations included 5 participants conceived via donor insemination (one biological mother, one non-biological mother), 1 participant with three co-parents from birth (two lesbian mothers and a heterosexual father), and 16 participants born to cisgender heterosexual parents, where one parent came out as LGBTQ.
Key Findings
Families discussed donor conception very openly. They shared specific details about the conception process. One example from the article shows this well: One participant described how his parents would openly tell the "turkey baster story" about his conception, calling it "hilarious".
Donor stories were integrated into larger family narratives. Participants shared that as children they knew details like how many attempts it took (e.g., one participant knew she was conceived on the tenth attempt, another on the fourth). These stories were told repeatedly throughout childhood.
Participants born through donor conception often separated concepts of sex, reproduction, and family formation as children. The focus wasn't on the donor as a missing parent figure, but rather as part of how the family was created.
While lesbian parents were very open with their children about donor conception, their own heterosexual parents (the grandparents) often found these conversations more uncomfortable and sometimes suggested making up stories about heterosexual relationships instead.
Limitations: Sample recruited primarily through online methods and community organizations, potentially missing less connected individuals. Retrospective nature of interviews may affect accuracy of childhood memories. Sample includes wide age range (19-59) representing different historical contexts. Study did not focus on donor conception specifically.
Applications: Demonstrates impact of having access to conception stories and highlights role of family narratives in identity formation.
Funding Source: Economic and Social Research Council (grant number ES/J500161/1)
Lead Author: Eliza Garwood is a researcher at the University of Southampton, UK, specializing in LGBTQ family studies and narrative research.
Regulatory Context
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) serves as independent regulator overseeing fertility treatment and research using human embryos. It was established by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 and amended in 2008.
Fertility treatment is provided at both NHS and private licensed clinics. Single women, female same-sex couples, and heterosexual couples all have equal legal access to fertility treatments, including donor conception. Since 2013, all women qualify for fertility services regardless of marital status or sexual orientation.
Donor anonymity law changed in 2005. Donors who registered after April 1, 2005 must be identifiable. Donor-conceived individuals born from donations after this date can request identifying information (name, date of birth, town of birth, last known address) once they turn 18. For those conceived before April 2005, donors are anonymous unless they have chosen to re-register as identifiable.
If both the donor-conceived person and their half-sibling(s) are on the HFEA Register and request information, the HFEA can tell them whether they’re genetically related. Anyone over 16 can ask the HFEA this question.
The 10-family limit restricts the number of families that can be created from a single donor at UK licensed clinics; this limit applies to both UK donors and imported donor sperm.
Donors can only be compensated for verified expenses: £750 per cycle for egg donors and £35 per clinic visit for sperm donors. Only altruistic donation is permitted.