Abstract

One of the most notable developments in psychological research on adult relationships over the past 20 years has been the explosion of inquiry into the romantic, peer, and family ties of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (collectively denoted sexual-minority) individuals. After decades of invisibility, the unique interpersonal challenges facing this population have finally received systematic attention. This has vastly improved not only our basic understanding of the sexual-minority life course, but has contributed to research on adult development more generally, by highlighting how issues of diversity and social context bear on normative life experiences and trajectories.