Gay Fathers at the Schoolhouse Door: From Cluelessness to Tepid Inclusion

• In Event: 77.047 - How Families Are Received in Schools

Abstract

Research has thoroughly documented the positive benefits of family engagement and parental involvement. Evidence has also highlighted that school-to-home initiatives often limit families of historically marginalized backgrounds. Nevertheless, questions remain about school-to-home relationships for families headed by LGBTQ+ parents. This paper focuses on 22 sets of gay fathers, whose experiences reveal a range of certain school practices (e.g., registration forms, curriculum and instruction, Mother’s Day celebrations) that frame constructions of family differently, either by including or ignoring families headed by gay fathers. Through their voices, we also learn how these practices affected the ways that they interact with their children’s schooling and education in terms of access, agency, and visibility.

Author

• Andrew Leland, Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville