Abstract: The identities of father and homosexual can be seen as mutually exclusive. The purpose of this paper is to explore how gay men in Chile experience parenting. In-depth interviews were conducted with fourteen men who self-identified as homosexual and had become fathers in a previous heterosexual relationship or with a same-sex partner (through gestational surrogacy or a co-parenting agreement). The results show that gay fatherhood is not essentially different from heterosexual fatherhood. Two main differences were identified: a) homosexual fathers challenge cultural stereotypes that assume that a woman is necessary to raise a child and b) they develop strategies to protect their families from a hostile social environment. A heteronormative context that devaluates homosexuality directly influences the parenting experiences of gay men in Chile.

Resumen: Las identidades de ‘padre’ y ‘homosexual’ suelen verse como mutuamente excluyentes. El propósito de este artículo es explorar las experiencias de paternidad de hombres homosexuales en Chile. Se realizaron entrevistas en profundidad a 14 padres que se auto identifican como homosexuales o gay y que han tenido hijos tanto en el marco de una relación heterosexual, como en el contexto de una relación homosexual (a través de gestación subrogada o acuerdo de coparentalidad). Los resultados muestran que las experiencias de paternidad de los padres gay no son muy diferentes a las de los padres heterosexuales. Las diferencias estriban en que los padres homosexuales a) desafían estereotipos culturales que asumen que una mujer es necesaria para criar un/a niño/a y b) desarrollan estrategias para proteger a sus familias de un entorno hostil. En este artículo mostramos cómo un contexto heteronormativo que devalúa a la homosexualidad influye en las experiencias parentales de hombres gay en Chile.1

Resumo: As identidades de 'pai' e 'homossexual' tendem a ser vistas como mutuamente excludentes. O objetivo deste artigo é explorar as experiências de paternidade de homens homossexuais no Chile. Foram realizadas entrevistas em profundidade a 14 pais que se identificam como homossexuais ou gay e que tiveram filhos tanto no contexto de uma relação heterossexual, quanto no contexto de uma relação homossexual (através de barrigas de aluguel ou acordo de co-parentalidade). Os resultados mostram que a paternidade gay não é essencialmente diferente da paternidade heterossexual. As diferenças são que os pais homossexuais a) desafiam estereótipos culturais que pressupõem que uma mulher é necessária para criar um filho e b) desenvolvem estratégias para proteger suas famílias num ambiente hostil. Neste artigo, mostramos como um contexto heteronormativo que desvaloriza a homossexualidade influencia as experiências parentais de gays no Chile.

Background: Assisted reproductive technologies still generate debate about ethical moral and religious issues. Aim: To analyze the opinions of the general public about the use of assisted reproduction technology (ART). Material and Methods: This analysis used the information gathered in a survey about human reproduction and modern reproduction technologies applied to a random sample of 1,500 volunteers aged 18 to 65 years, living in Santiago, Chile. Also, data from 25 structured interviews and six focal groups of eight participants each was used. To typify opinions concerning the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), a multiple correspondence analysis was undertaken. Results: People that support ART are non-religious young people of medium-high socioeconomic level. The arguments most commonly used by people to justify their positions about ART are the right to have children, the protection of kinship, that ART implies commercialization and manipulation of human life, the need to obey God’s will, and the autonomy of informed and educated adults. Conclusions: The study allows us to understand in more complex ways the positions about ART. Chile does not have a legislation that regulates the use of ART. Generating information on the public opinion about these techniques we hope to contribute to the debate about the access and regulation of new reproductive technologies in Chile.

Background: Advances in reproductive medicine and the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have a great impact in the lives of people and the conformation of their families. Aim: To report the results of an opinion survey applied to inhabitants of Santiago, Chile about the use of ART to conceive. Material and Methods: A survey was designed and applied to a random representative sample of 1.500 people between the ages of 18 and 65 in the 34 municipalities of Santiago. Results: Eighty eight percent of respondents support the use of medical assistance to conceive children. Wide approval exists for the use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) by heterosexual couples, even when not married (85.9%) and by single women (70.4%), by both mole and female participants of every socioeconomic level, age group and religious affiliation. Support decreases significantly when the use of IVF is considered for post-menopausal women (35.1 %) and by same-sex couples (26.6%). Conclusions: Results of this survey indicate that the majority of inhabitants in Santiago favor the use of ART, including IVF. This support decreases significantly for elderly women and homosexual couples.