What Does ChatGPT Know About LGBTQ Families?

ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI, has taken the world by storm, impacting everything from college essays to call centers to computer programming. More than a search engine, it can create its own answers from the information it accesses. It is only as good as that information, however–and as with other technology solutions, may come with biases and errors from its human creators. This led me to wonder: What will ChatGPT tell me about LGBTQ families and resources for them?

I first asked it, "How do children do with LGBTQ parents?" It responded: "Research suggests that children raised by LGBTQ parents do just as well as those raised by heterosexual parents." In fact, it said, studies have shown they may actually have some advantages: "They tend to have more diverse and open-minded attitudes towards sexuality and gender, and may be more accepting of diversity in general."

It added, "The most important factor in a child's well-being is the quality of the relationship between the child and their parents, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. As long as children are loved, supported, and provided with a stable and nurturing environment, they can thrive regardless of their parents' sexual orientation."

That tracks with the research I know. I then asked, "What are the challenges of being an LGBTQ parent?" It listed legal challenges, social stigma, lack of representation, safety concerns, and navigating healthcare. (I don't have space here to share ChatGPT's full descriptions, but you can see them at mombian.com.) It concluded, however, "Despite these challenges, LGBTQ parents are resilient and resourceful, and many find ways to build strong and loving families despite the obstacles they face." Indeed.

I had to ask the counterbalancing question, "What are the good parts of being an LGBTQ parent?" ChatGPT mentioned building a family on your own terms, teaching children about diversity, acceptance, and the value of different types of families, creating a supportive community with strong networks of other LGBTQ parents and allies, challenging stereotypes and breaking down barriers, being more resilient and resourceful because of the challenges, and developing a strong sense of advocacy for themselves and their families. "Overall, LGBTQ parenting can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience, just like any other form of parenting," it said. I don't disagree.

I then tried a question about a specific segment of our community that I knew to have fewer resources, asking, "What are some resources for transgender men who want to get pregnant?" ChatGPT offered the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, Trans Fertility Co, and Family Equality, all relevant sites, plus one (LGBT Family Building) that does not seem to exist (though it is a page title within many other sites), and one organization for reproductive health that not only has no resources for trans parents, but is based in Nigeria, whose laws are very hostile to LGBTQ people. Chat GPT did conclude on the affirming note, "By seeking out resources and support, transgender men can take the necessary steps to start or expand their families in a safe and supportive environment."

Can ChatGPT recommend books for kids in LGBTQ families? It suggested, "And Tango Makes Three," by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell; "Heather Has Two Mommies," by Lesléa Newman; "George," by Alex Gino (which it didn't know was renamed to "Melissa" a couple of years ago); "Julián is a Mermaid," by Jessica Love, and "Red: A Crayon's Story" by Michael Hall (which isn't about LGBTQ identity per se, but ChatGPT rightly noted "has been interpreted as a metaphor for the LGBTQ community").

These are great titles, but all are five or more years old. I ran the query with slight variation a few times, and ChatGPT mostly responded with on-target recommendations, even sticking with ones after 2019 when I asked for "recent" books. A couple of times it came back with titles that do not seem to exist, however.

I went further, and asked ChatGPT if it could create a story about a boy with two moms. It did–and spun the tale of a boy named Alex who loved spending time with his moms. One day at the park, however, he overhears some other kids saying, "Alex has two moms? That's weird!" and "Don't you need a dad to be a real family?" His moms explain, "Families come in all shapes and sizes, and what matters most is that they love and support each other." Alex tells the other kids he loves both of his moms, who take care of him and make him happy, and "That's what family is all about." The other kids realize that "having two moms was just as normal and wonderful as having a mom and a dad." Alex felt pride in his family from then on.

This storyline is affirming, yes–but it's one I've seen in numerous LGBTQ-inclusive kids' books, particularly pre-2015 or so, in which having same-sex parents is problematized or questioned before being shown to be just fine. It's perhaps the trope-iest trope of the genre. I don't think real authors will be put out of work by ChatGPT anytime soon.

Overall, then, ChatGPT seems to be appropriately inclusive and supportive of LGBTQ families, hearteningly reflecting the state of the broad information ocean from which it draws. It may not always give accurate recommendations for resources, however, and is not yet as creative as a human storyteller. As with much technology, it can be a useful tool, but still needs a human to confirm what it tells us.

Dana Rudolph is the founder and publisher of Mombian (mombian.com), a two-time GLAAD Media Award-winning blog and resource directory, plus a searchable database of 1200+ LGBTQ family books.