Legal Matters

As an unmarried person, your parents are legally your next of kin. Should you die suddenly, perhaps in illness or accident, have you left a will properly drawn up to protect your partner? Although this will protect any disposition of your property, unfortunately, as the law stands at present, your parents could insist on directing your funeral and may try to deny that your partner exists. So building up a happy and accepted relationship with your family is most important to you, to your family and to your partner.

Younger lesbian and gay persons are, in general, more vulnerable to problems arising from rejection. However, in our experience, much of the advice given above applies equally to the older person who wishes to be honest and seeks the acceptance and love of parents who have been unaware of their sexual orientation. Equally, it provides a basis for "coming out" to brothers and sisters and other members of the family. It is simply because of the unique position of parents that we concentrated upon this particular aspect.