The experience of parents who have LGBT child and their social work needs: Example of Rainbow Family Groups

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual people are discriminated and prevented from their access to fundamental rights and services due to their gender identities. Even though these identities are ignored and no public support is offered, LGBT is supported through associations and advocacy activities. However, the critical issue of parents of LGBT people is ignored by many associations, the sustainability of existing services is not found, the problems that parents experience are often not even seen by their own children, and parents are isolated. This research was conducted in order to make the experiences of the parents of LGBT children visible and to identify the social service needs that arise in this context. Parental experiences and needs are addressed within the family life cycle and the context of developmentally changing needs. In-depth interviews are held with 8 parents that are the participants of the Rainbow Family Group meetings. Interviews are analyzed with MAXQDA 12. As a result of the analysis, the pressure on parents due to the patriarchal and heterosexist structure since prenatal period is felt in various forms, and it increases with the included systems. It is determined that the essential requirements of parents are education, right information access, counseling and guidance services. Parents have no knowledge of social services, and the concept of "social worker" is not clear for them. Therefore, they are applying to mental health professionals such as psychologists and psychiatrists when they need support, and do not define social workers as actors in solving their problems. At the end of the research, in the light of the data obtained, suggestions are made for various actors at the point of reducing the problems parents face during their life cycle.