%0 Journal Article
%T All Families Are Special: Experiences of Lesbian
%A Kiersten M. Eberle
%A Lia Softas-Nall
%A Rachel T. Gall
%J The Family Journal
%@ 1552-3950
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/1066480718807409
%X This study explores the lived experiences of members of lesbian-parented families incorporating a systemic perspective to include both the voices of mothers and their young children. Eight whole-family interviews were conducted with lesbian couples with at least one child in elementary school (aged 5¨C11). Six themes emerged from the study: intentionality in finding places to live and travel, having children, and having discussions with their children; views of themselves as advocates and being Ħ°outĦħ in their communities; noticing how times are changing; identifying assumptions as a two-way street; perceptions of gender surrounding parenting and the salience of various identities; and the dialectical tension between wanting to be perceived as normal and wanting to acknowledge their uniqueness. Clinical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed
%K qualitative
%K lesbians
%K families
%K children
%K gay and lesbian issues
%K parenting
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1066480718807409