Making Sense: Familial Journeys towards Acceptance of Gay and Lesbian Family Members in India

Abstract

Initial responses of family members to ‘coming out’ or ‘finding out’ the same-sex sexual
orientation of their children include disappointment, disapproval, shock, rejection, hos-
tility and even violence. Several factors—structural, interpersonal and personal—play a
role in the journeys that families undertake in ‘making sense’ of same-sex sexuality of
a family member. The current study employs a qualitative exploratory method to docu-
ment these familial processes and their complexities along with factors that influence
these journeys. Twenty-two family members (parents and siblings) in the city of Mumbai
(erstwhile Bombay), India having a gay/lesbian, child/sibling, were interviewed for the
present study. Most of the existing research in India is focused on the gay or lesbian
persons themselves and familial responses have received attention only through the
experiences of the gay or lesbian person. The current study would thus start a dialogue
on an area hitherto unexplored.