Queer co-parenting families are invited to join in on a new research project exploring the whanau relationships of lesbians, gay men and their children. University of Canterbury Lesbian PhD student and lecturer Nicola Surtees' doctorate research will be titled Queer Imaginings and Diverse Practices: Lesbians, Gay Men and their Children. She tells GayNZ.com it will investigate the intended and actual parenting of lesbians and gay men who have teamed up to produce and raise children together. Most previous research in this area has focused on single households led by lesbian parents and to a lesser extent, those led by gay male parents," she explains. "Studies that explore the ways lesbians and gay men are working together to create and 'do' family in innovative ways are scarce." Surtees says her research may be particularly important since New Zealand legislation, while now more responsive to diverse family arrangements, fails to recognise the realities of the family relationships of some lesbians and gay men. She is recruiting gay and lesbian Kiwis who are currently co-parenting children or are planning to co-parent. "Participation in the study will involve one group interview with other members of participants' prospective or existing families and one individual interview," she says. Participants' real names and other identifying information will not be used in the study and all data gathered will be kept confidential. Interested people can contact Nicola Surtees by email: nicola.surtees@canterbury.ac.nz.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Tuesday, 16th February 2010 - 8:46pm