Charlotte J. Patterson

- Graduate Student

• Child development and family functioning in adoptive families and those headed by LGBT parents
• Transracial adoption
• Motivations to parenthood
• Experiences of adolescents who are LGBT
• Intersections of this research with public policy and law

• BA, Cornell University
• MAT, Cornell University

Investigators: Rachel H. Farr, Charlotte J. Patterson, and Stephen L. Forssell

We are working on an adoptive families study with families headed by lesbian, gay, or heterosexual couples and their young adopted children (ages one to five years old). We are interested in child development, parenting, and family relationships among adoptive families headed by parents of different genders and sexual orientations. We have interviewed families along the East Coast, and are currently interviewing with families across the country.

- Graduate Student

• Marriage as a social construct
• The benefits of marriage for partners and their children
• Consequences of denying marriage rights to sexual minorities
• Differences and similarities in intimate partnerships between same sex and different sex couples

• BA, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Engaged Couples Study

The purpose of this study is to (a) examine how engaged couples decide whether or not to become parents and (b) learn what motivates different couples to marry. The study consists of an online survey, which takes approximately 25- 35 minutes to complete. In order to be eligible to participate in this study, you must be 20-35 years of age. You and your romantic partner must live in the United States at least 50% of the time and plan to marry or have a commitment ceremony for the first time within the next 365 days. You and your partner must not currently be parents. For more information, please contact Cristina at survey.couples {at} gmail {dot} com.

- Graduate Student

Research Interests:

• Family formation and sexual orientation
• Motivations to parenthood
• Parenting desires and intentions
• Intersections of this research with public policy and law
• Applied developmental psychology

• BA, The University of Texas at Austin

- Graduate Student

Research Interests:

• The role of fathers in children's development
• Family issues among lesbian, gay and bisexual populations
• Family formation and family processes among same-sex partners
• The role of parental sexual orientation on children's development, with a special emphasis on gay fathers

• BA, State University of New York at Stony Brook
• MA, Adelphi University