Parenting is always political to some degree. But for same-sex couples, the political climate can feel especially fraught. With shifting policies, court battles, and public rhetoric about LGBTQ+ rights, many queer parents are asking: Is it safe? Can we protect our kids? Will our family remain respected and secure?

In this post I want to explore the real fears families are feeling, the facts about where power currently lies, and ideas for what same-sex couples can do to shore up resilience and hope.

In many families today, politics isn’t just a topic for debate — it can become a fault line that fractures friendships. As polarization deepens, some people find themselves drifting apart from longtime friends because their political views diverge too sharply. For modern families seeking to balance connection, values, and empathy, this is a painful but very real phenomenon. In this post, we’ll explore what the research says, why it happens, and how to navigate it (or heal from it) in family life.

In modern family life, many conversations center on identity, acceptance, and the complexity of personal beliefs. One area that often goes under the radar is the intersection of sexual orientation and political ideology, in particular, those who identify as gay or LGBTQ+ and hold conservative views. That intersection can bring unique stresses, including strains around internalized homophobia. In this post, we’ll unpack what this looks like, how it shows up, and what family members can do to offer support.

Supporting LGBTQ+ families and affirming queer individuals can feel intuitive and just to many—but for some straight couples, there remains a lingering fear: “If I support this, will it somehow mean my child is more likely to be gay?” This kind of worry often reflects deeper cultural beliefs and misconceptions rather than evidence-based understanding. Below, we examine the roots of those fears, what the research actually shows, and how couples can move toward more informed, compassionate positions.

The recent report from UCLA’s Williams Institute on LGBTQ parenting reveals crucial insights about modern families like mine—families that don’t always fit neatly into societal or media-driven perceptions. As a gay father of triplet toddlers, I find it both validating and disheartening to see the complexities of LGBTQ family life presented in this data. It reminds me that while we've made significant progress in our fight for equality, there’s still much work to be done to ensure families like mine are fully recognized and supported.

There’s a belief held by some that non-traditional parenting, like co-parenting with an ex-spouse and their partner, could somehow hinder children’s happiness or development. It’s a deeply ingrained notion that if a family doesn’t fit the mold of two biological parents in a single home, the kids are bound for trouble. But I’ve learned firsthand that this couldn't be further from the truth.