Gay fathers face stigma and mistreatment as parents

Even as parenting by same-sex couples becomes more common in the U.S., many gay men and their families still experience discrimination and are stigmatised by relatives, neighbours, salespeople and other members of their communities, a study suggests.

Almost two-thirds of gay fathers experience stigma based on their status as homosexual dads, and half of them avoid situations out of fear of mistreatment or discrimination, the current study found.

Their children experience stigma, too. One-third of gay fathers said their kids were stigmatised by other children, and one in five dads said their children had avoided forming friendships out of fear of mistreatment or discrimination.