This document discusses LGBT families in Portugal and the social oppression they face. It notes that while research shows there are no differences in child outcomes between LGBT-led and heterosexual families, LGBT families still face legal impediments to adoption and barriers in schools and healthcare. The document also outlines strategies LGBT families use to build resilience against oppression, such as strengthening social support networks and openly discussing their family structure. Finally, it argues we should move past comparing LGBT and heterosexual families, as differences are likely due to social context rather than sexual orientation.

1. Symposium S023
The role of culture in defining sexual orientation and
gender identity: LGBT communities around the world
GENDER IN PORTUGUESE SAME-GENDER
Pedro Alexandre Costa
Ph.D. in Psychology
UIPES-ISPA-IU
University of Beira Interior
pcosta@ispa.pt
Ph.D. Grant
FAMILIES
- Heterosexism and social oppression -

2. “Policies and laws relating to sexual orientation
will influence LGB lives (…) Most LGB people
have been exposed to this cultural form of
verbal abuse for most of their lives in one form
or another, yet considerable tension and fear
occur if such discourse is routine in one’s local
newspapers and other local media. Most LGB
people live their lives in relative anonymity, but
such public venom increases
hyperconsciousness and interpersonal
tensions”
Anthony D’Augelli, 2003

3. LGBT situation in Portugal (1)
Milestones:
1995: 1st National LGBT Association: ILGA-Portugal; 1997:
2nd National LGBT Association: Opus Gay, both based in
Lisbon.
2000: 1st Gay Pride, celebrated in Lisbon; 2006: 1st Gay
Pride celebrated in Oporto.
2001: Opening of the only Portuguese LGBT Community
Center.
2001: “Civil partnership” approved for same-se couples.
2004: Introduction of a clause of non-discrimination on the
basis of sexual orientation in the Portuguese Constitution
(Article 13 – Principle of Equality).
2006: The main weekend newspaper printed the front page
headline: “One million Portuguese people are

4. LGBT situation in Portugal (2)
Milestones:
2006: Hate crime against a transsexual woman, who was
beaten and left to die by a group of teenage boys.
2006: A pioneer female same-sex couples disputed the law
by trying to get married, and sued the State as a
consequence.
2006: A civic platform was created in support of same-sex
marriage, named “Equality in access to civil marriage”.
2010: Same-sex marriage was approved in equal
circumstances to the traditional opposite-sex marriage.
2011: Gender Identity Law approved. Before that,
transsexual people had to sue the State to have their new
gender identity legally recognized.

5. LGB Parenting in Portugal
Setbacks:
2001: “Civil partnerships” does not include parental rights.
2006: Only opposite-sex couples can have access to
Assisted Reproductive Technology.
2010: Same-sex marriage law prohibits same-sex couples’
adoption.

6. Although Literature on gay and lesbian-led families have
shown that:
- There are no differences between children with LGB
parents and heterosexual parent in several
developmental outcomes;
- There are no differences in psychological, social and
emotional adjustment between LGB and heterosexual
parents;
- How are children and parents in LGB families stable and
healthy if they are confronted with heterosexism and
social oppression?

7. LGBT people are faced with social oppression –
homophobia, heterosexism, harassment, and verbal and
physical violence –throughout their lives.
To different extents, virtually all LGBT people must contend
with their own internalized oppression, and some with
minority stress
“Like other marginalized groups, LGBT people have
historically experienced oppression in the form of
harassment and violence; discrimination in areas such as
employment, housing, access to education and human
services; and laws that have either actively discriminated
against them or failed to protect their basic human rights” .
[Harper & Schneider, 2003]

8. Multi-level Sources of Social
Oppression
- Institutional / Legal: Legal impediments or obstacles to
different forms or union recognition and parenthood;
- Medical: Permeability of prejudices in clinical practices
and settings; Obstacles to social parents;
- School: Public schools less interventive and less
tolerant; more permeable to religious influences; peer
pressure and harassment;
- Psychological heterosexism: prejudice, harassment
and violence;
- Individual: Management of family secret; social and
community disengagement; internalization of oppression.

9. Resilience and Self-Empowerment
Gay and Lesbian-led Families are exemplary in showing
resilience and self-empowerment in face of social
oppression – “LGB people translate empowerment
concepts into action”
[Garnets & D’Augelli, 1994]
Not only they are faced with individual social oppression
throughout their lives, they have to overcome several legal
impediments to become parents.
Paths to parenthood available to gay men and lesbians –
adoption, foster care, surrogacy, artificial insemination, or
coparenting – demand far greater motivation than
heterosexual men or women need to become parents.
[Stacey & Biblarz, 2010]

10. Gay and Lesbian Families
LGB parents develop Protective Strategies to confront and
to deal with social oppression:
- Reinforcement and extension of social networks;
- “Families of choice” as extended family;
- Open discourse of sexual orientation, family, and
anticipating heterosexism;
- Family coming-out in social settings such as school;
- Search and contact with media and books with LGBT
content;
- Involvement / Participation in the LGBT community.

11. Similarities & Differences
Even sympathetic researchers to LGB Parenthood are not
immune to institutional heterosexism!...
Research that has focused on similarities and difference
have suffered from a need to proof that gay and lesbian
parents “are not less successful or less worthy than
heterosexual parents”
[Stacey & Biblarz, 2001]
This line of research implies that heterosexuality, and
heterosexual parenting, are the norm to each to conform.

12. Are there REALLY any differences?
- In terms of child developmental outcomes, in general,
research has shown that children and young adults from
LGB families are (1) less stereotypical in their gender
roles and behaviors, (2) more tolerant to “differences”;
(3) more likely to experience same-sex attraction and
relationships.
- In terms of family processes, LGB families have to deal
with a serious of tasks that heterosexual families do not,
such as managing openness of family and social
oppression.

13. In conclusion…
These differences should, however, disappear
alongside social oppression. Resilience shown by
LGB Families are a response to their social
context, and unlikely due to gender or sexual
orientation effects. Furthermore, some differences
are just that: Differences.
As Stacey and Biblarz (2010) put it:
“Research has not identified any gender-exclusive
parenting abilities (with the
partial exception of lactation).”

14. Thank you for your attention!
Any further query or comment, feel free to contact
me
pcosta@ispa.pt