Co-Residential Partnering among LGB People in Colombia, Germany, and Norway: Prevalence, Partner’s Gender, and Parenthood

Gioia Geremia , Centre d'Estudis Demogràfics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Diederik Boertien, Centre d Estudis Demografics (CED)
Clara Cortina Trilla, Universitat Pompeu Fabra

How do partnership trajectories among the LGB population vary across contexts? This study examines changes in the gender composition (having a same-gender or different-gender partner) of co-residential relationships and parenthood among LGB individuals across three distinct sociocultural and legal contexts: Colombia, Germany, and Norway. Using representative survey data (DHS for Colombia, FReDA for Germany and GGS for Norway), we reconstruct respondents’ co-residential and parenthood trajectories across two birth cohorts (1970-1979 and 1980-1996). First, our findings align with previous research, showing lower rates of co-residential relationships and parenthood among LGB individuals compared to the general population. Second, different-gender co-residential relationships and parenthood within them remain widespread in Colombia, whereas in Germany and Norway same-gender relationships – particularly among lesbian and gay individuals – are more prevalent. These patterns, alongside higher levels of singlehood in Colombia, support the idea that same-gender relationships are more common in contexts with greater social acceptance and lower stigma and discrimination against LGBTQ* identities. Interestingly, we observe relatively few mixed trajectories (having had both same- and different-gender partners), even among bisexual individuals. Lastly, despite substantial legal across cohorts (especially in Colombia and Germany) we do not find significant cohort variations in in the gender composition of couples in any of the three countries. Overall, this study provides novel insights on LGB partnership and parenthood dynamics and highlights the central role of social acceptance and evolving legal frameworks in shaping partnership and family formation patterns among LGB people.

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 Presented in Session P1. Families, Fertility, and the Life Course 1