Family Law and Gay and Lesbian Family Issues in the Twentieth Century

Authors

David L. Chambers, University of Michigan Law SchoolFollow
Nancy D. Polikoff, American University Washington College of LawFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1999

Abstract

Over these thirty years, lesbians and gay men have increasingly challenged conventional definitions of marriage and the family. In this brief article, we tell the story of gay people and family law in the United States across this period. We divide our discussion into two sections: issues regarding the recognition of the same-sex couple relationship and issues regarding gay men and lesbians as parents. These issues overlap, of course, but since family law discussions commonly treat adult-adult issues of all sorts separately from parent-child issues, we believe it convenient and helpful to do so as well.

Recommended Citation

Chambers, David L. "Family Law and Gay and Lesbian Family Issues in the Twentieth Century." N. Polikoff, co-author. Fam. L. Q. 33, no. 3 (1999): 523-42.