Althoughlegalsame-sexmarriagerightsremainrare，scoresofnations，startingwithDenmarkin1989，aswellasmanystates，provincesandcitiesaroundtheglobehaverecognizedsame-sexcouplesthroughdomesticpartnershipsorcivilunions.ThesteadilyexpandingranksofsuchnationsnowincludealmostallofWesternEuropeaswellasSlovenia，Croatia，Andorra，Israel，NewZealand，IcelandandGreenland，andlikelysoonevenconservativeCatholicIreland.Likewise，same-sexcouplesnowenjoysomelegalstatusinlocalesasdiverseasTasmania，BuenosAires，andtheBrazilianstateofRioGrandedoSul，andsimilarproposalshavebeenintroducedinlocalitiesfromTaipeitoCaracas.Heretoo，U.S.policyremainsdeeplydividedandcontradictory.Currentlysixofthefiftystatesgrantdifferinglevelsofbenefitstosame-sexcouples，andseveralothersareactivelyconsideringsuchproposals，butatthesametimeseveralstatesareattemptingtoimposebansonanyformofrecognitionorbenefitstosame-sexcouples.OnecansafelypredictthatlegislativeandjudicialstrugglesoverthelegalstatusandrightsofgayandlesbiancoupleswillcontinueintheU.S.andinternationallyintothelongforeseeablefuture.
Althoughtheglobalmarchtowardlegalizingsame-sexcouplerelationshipshascapturedthecenterfoldofmediaattention，inmyviewtheadventofplannedlesbianandgayparentingrepresentsafarmoreinnovativeandconsequentialdomainofcontemporaryfamilytransformation.Throughouthistory，peoplewithclosetedhomosexualdesiresandrelationshipshavebeenparents，butuntilveryrecently，therewasnosuchthingasopenlylesbianorgayparenthood.Infact，parentsintheWestwhointhe1960sandearly1970sbegantocomeoutoftheclosetandidentifythemselvesaslesbiansandgaymenroutinelylostcustodyofthechildrentheyhadconceivedwithintheirheterosexualmarriages.Likewise，childlessadultsgenerallypresumedthattoacceptalesbianorgayidentitymeanttorelinquishtheprospectofparenthood.Merelythreedecadesago，thenotionofagayparentseemedoxymoronic.