Are we as Queer People Not the Pioneers of Found Family?: Preferences and Tensions in Deciding How to Become Parents

Abstract Introduction Options for queer people to become parents have expanded in recent years, but remain limited. Queer people face barriers to becoming parents, whether through fertility care, adoption, or other options. Guided by the queer reproductive justice framework, we explore preferences of queer people and how queer people make decisions about the process of becoming parents. Methods We conducted 24 in-depth interviews with sexual and gender minority adults assigned female at birth from July-August 2023. Interviews were conducted online and lasted about one hour. We thematically coded transcripts using both inductive and deductive methods. Results Participants sought to align their preferences and future decisions about becoming parents with their values. Many prioritized pursuing options that they felt expanded their chosen family, including using known donor sperm. Participants grappled with a desire for and discomfort with pursuing biological relatedness, feeling that, as queer people, they should embrace non-biological parenthood. Participants managed invasiveness in the process of becoming parents, and defined invasiveness broadly. Many expressed that while fertility care could be medically invasive, adoption and fostering were invasive due to legal involvement. Experiences and anticipated experiences of discrimination also influenced intentions. Conclusions Participants valued choice in how to become parents. Aligned with the queer reproductive justice framework, participants contended with the implications of their family-building preferences and decisions, including the ethics of fertility care, adoption, and fostering. Policy implications Equitable access to parenting options is imperative for queer people and requires proactive policies protecting queer families. Professional organizations can continue to guide practices that support access to fertility care and other family-building options for queer people.