Editing Lesbian (section)

==Family and politics==
{{Further|Same-sex parenting}}

Although homosexuality among females has taken place in many cultures in history, a recent phenomenon is the development of family among same-sex partners. Before the 1970s, the idea that same-sex adults formed long-term committed relationships was unknown to many people. The majority of lesbians (between 60% and 80%) report being in a long-term relationship.<ref name="Schlager1998"/>{{rp|p=117}} Sociologists credit the high number of paired women to gender role socialization: the inclination for women to commit to relationships doubles in a lesbian union. Unlike heterosexual relationships that tend to divide work based on sex roles, lesbian relationships divide chores evenly between both members. Studies have also reported that emotional bonds are closer in lesbian and gay relationships than heterosexual ones.<ref name="Schlager1998"/>{{rp|pp=118–119}}

Family issues were significant concerns for lesbians when gay activism became more vocal in the 1960s and 1970s. Custody issues in particular were of interest since often courts would not award custody to mothers who were openly homosexual, even though the general procedure acknowledged children were awarded to the biological mother.<ref name="Schlager1998"/>{{rp|pp=125–126}}<ref name="Jennings2007"/>{{rp|p=182}} Several studies performed as a result of custody disputes viewed how children grow up with same-sex parents compared to single mothers who did not identify as lesbians. They found that children's mental health, happiness, and overall adjustment is similar to children of divorced women who are not lesbians. Sexual orientation, [[gender identity]], and sex roles of children who grow up with lesbian mothers are unaffected. Differences that were found include the fact that divorced lesbians tend to be living with a partner, fathers visit divorced lesbian mothers more often than divorced nonlesbian mothers, and lesbian mothers report a greater fear of losing their children through legal means.<ref name="Schlager1998"/>{{rp|pp=125–126}}

Improving opportunities for growing families of same-sex couples has shaped the political landscape within the past ten years. A push for [[same-sex marriage]] or civil unions in western countries has replaced other political objectives. {{As of|2012}}, ten countries and six U.S. states offer same-sex marriage; [[civil unions]] are offered as an option in some European countries, U.S. states and individual municipalities. The ability to adopt domestically or internationally children or provide a home as a foster parent is also a political and family priority for many lesbians, as is improving access to [[artificial insemination]].<ref name="Schlager1998"/>{{rp|pp=128–129}}