Authors: Emma Bouffard, Martin Blais, Isabel Côté, Geneviève Pagé, & Kévin Lavoie
First published: 2026
LGBTQ+ parents in Quebec have diverse profiles that are still poorly documented. This study describes the sociodemographic characteristics and pathways to parenthood of a non-probabilistic, unweighted sample of 685 LGBTQ+ parents living in Quebec, examining variations by sexual orientation, gender identity, respondent age, and birth cohort of their child. Cisgender men, trans women and transfeminine individuals were generally older and had children before 2002, while cisgender women, trans men and transmasculine parents were younger and had children after 2001. Over half of participants conceived through sexual intercourse, particularly cisgender men, trans women and transfeminine individuals, whereas cisgender women more often reported insemination. Conception through sexual intercourse was most frequent among older respondents, usually in past different-sex/gender relationships, while insemination predominated among younger parents, particularly those with children born after 2010. Other pathways included surrogacy, adoption, step-parenting, and foster care. The results of this study highlight the diversity of LGBTQ+ family trajectories and challenge research approaches focused solely on families made up of two parents of the same sex or gender. These findings underscore the need for more inclusive conceptualizations of LGBTQ+ parenting and for policies that enhance recognition, accessibility, and support for diverse family configurations.








