Gay men and *adoption: A qualitative study that explores the psychological processes gay men encounter

The present study is a qualitative exploration of the psychological processes openly gay men experience when they choose parenthood and create their family constellations through the domestic adoption process. It aims to understand how gay men blend two seemingly different identities: being gay and being a father.;Nine gay men who either finalized or were in the process of finalizing their adoptions participated in the study. They were recruited from a gay parents' social/support group in the Puget Sound area. A qualitative study comprised of two focus groups was utilized to obtain the data. It was believed that the data would be richer through focus groups where the men could share their phenomenological experiences regarding the adoption process. The focus groups were taped and the tapes were transcribed. The data were analyzed based on Corbin and Strauss's grounded theory. Once categorical themes were identified, a second coder coded the transcripts to assure interrater reliability.;Based on the findings, the men reported a relatively easy process navigating the adoption process and attributed this to the accepting environment of the Puget Sound area. The participants reported a grief and loss process in which they mourned the loss of fatherhood when they identified as gay men. As the men became more aware of the possibilities for parenthood and proceeded with adoption, it was necessary for them to reconcile two different identities. The men indicated that sexual orientation was not a factor in how they parented their child/ren. In fact, the men identified different areas in which they felt similar to heterosexual couples when it came to their parenting responsibilities.