| The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of adoptive gay male couples in their transition to parenthood. Specifically, this study explored: (1) the challenges gay male couples faced in their transition to adoptive parenthood; (2) how they coped with these challenges; and (3) how the transition affected their relationships.;This study's framework was built on three temporal stages: (1) coupled life before the adoption; (2) the adoption process; and (3) family life post-placement. A semi-structured interview was administered to eight gay male couples. Thematic qualitative analysis was employed and the software program ATLAS.ti was used to support analysis activities.;Pre-adoption, couples overcame their belief that gay parenting was harmful to children. Findings suggest that informant couples possessed characteristics that helped them overcome internalized homophobia: a close relationship; an intense longing to parent; emotional maturity; and complementarity.;During the adoption process, two themes unique to gay male couples were derived from informant narratives. The first involved informants' affirmation that adoption was their first choice of family creation. The second concerned the means by which couples contended with anti-gay adoption policies: collaborative decision-making; setting boundaries with families and friends; exhaustive preparation; and, caring for the relationship.;During the early post-placement period, respondent couples underwent unique transitions as gay male adoptive couples. For example, the attention their family attracted contributed to feelings of increased vigilance in anticipation of public disapproval, feelings which gave way to pride in living openly as gay fathers. Couples expressed freedom to define parenting and partner roles based on the interests and talents of each partner where decisions regarding roles were arrived at collaboratively. Some couples struggled with role conflicts and the influence of male-socialization in achieving a balance of domestic, caretaking, and breadwinning responsibilities. Couples spoke of parenting as pivotal in transforming their identities as gay men and as a couple. As a direct result of their new roles as parents, informants described a deepening sense of emotional intimacy, an enhanced trust in the permanence of their relationships, and learning more constructive ways of resolving differences. |
