Family caregiving responsibilities among lesbians and gay men

This study examines the full range of family care responsibilities among lesbians and gay men, including caring for children and adults with an illness or disability. Thirty-two percent of the gay men and lesbians in this study were providing some type of caregiving assistance. Lesbians, compared with gay men, were significantly more likely to be caring for children and elderly people, whereas gay men were more likely to be assisting working-age adults with an illness or disability. After controlling for the sociodemographic characteristics of the caregivers, having child care responsibilities was a significant predictor of not being openly identified as gay or lesbian, but child care and adult care responsibilities were not significant predictors of degree of support received from biological family members or of harassment experienced. These findings have implications for the development of human services practices and policies that are responsive to the unique needs of lesbians and gay men and their families.