Abstract
This study analyzes the relationships between same-sex parenting and healthcare for couples, their children, and families in the context of public and private healthcare services. Through this analysis, we discuss the meanings attributed by individuals living in same-sex families to the search for health care and the care received. A qualitative approach was adopted grounded in narrative theory and the key concept of habitus. Open-ended interviews were used, with a question prompting the narratives of gay and lesbian couples. Conjugality and adoption were key scenarios. Appreciation, disillusionment, discomfort, and disqualification were the main meanings associated with conjugality. Adoption, in turn, was one of the main reasons for seeking healthcare. In terms of social actors, healthcare providers stood out - at times assessed positively, at times seen has having little preparation for providing care to gay and lesbian couples, involving situations of discomfort. The narratives comprised events and incidents, constituting temporal landmarks surrounding the experiences of couples seeking health care. In conclusion, relationships between same-sex couples and health care at public and private health services can be marked by discomfort.