Research
The rights and responsibilities of same sex-parented, or "rainbow" families are a hot topic right now. The issue has attracted the attention of both the late and new Pope, and of political leaders worldwide, including Australia's own Prime Minister.
The rise in numbers and profile of gay, lesbian and same-sex parented families is a global phenomenon. As a result, communities in many states and countries are debating the need for legal reform to recognise and protect the rights of same-sex parented families.
Some political leaders are reacting to this social change by creating more laws against rainbow families and same-sex marriage. In Australia, this includes the Federal Government's 2004 legislation to ban same-sex marriage (which wasn't allowed anyway!) and current intention to legislate to ban overseas adoption by same-sex couples.
History has shown that gay and lesbian people and same-sex couples will create their families, whatever the law says. Love and family are such basic needs, it will take more than homophobic laws to stop people from pursuing them.
We welcome open debate on all the issues raised by rainbow families. But debate needs to be informed: by facts, by research, and by listening to the voices and realities of people who are part of same-sex parented families, including the children.
Getting the facts
There are a lot of myths about rainbow families. However, there has also been a great deal of research done in Australia and internationally into rainbow families. This research explores issues including how gay and lesbian people and same-sex couples are having children, how the children are faring in a wide range of areas, how they are treated in school and by service providers, how same-sex couples arrange parenting, and how people generally are dealing with the changing nature of family in their community.
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Symposium and free public lecture
