Summary

 My name is Joy MacTavish-Unten and I am currently working on a research project that focuses on the experiences of members of mixed-race

LGBTQ families in the Seattle area including their perceptions about identity, location and support. 

If you, or someone you know, meets the following criteria, I would appreciate your involvement (or consideration in forwarding this to them). Participants need to identify as a member of a mixed-race (including interracial parents and/or transracial adoption) and LGBTQ family (including those in the planning or creation phases), be 18 or older, live within the Seattle metropolitan area and willing to participate in an interview at a private location of your choice that will take approximately an hour and half to complete. Eligible participants will receive a gift certificate for their involvement. This study has been approved by the University of Washington IRB #37897. 

Research and Contact Information

 University of Washington Bothell
Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences
Master of Arts in Cultural Studies
18115 Campus Way NE
Bothell, WA 98011-8246

Phone: 425.352.5350

Research Description

This research study is being carried out by Joy MacTavish-Unten, a Master of Arts in Cultural Studies graduate student at the University of Washington Bothell. It focuses on the experiences of members of mixed-race LGBTQ families with a special interest in the how race and sexual orientation within families impacts their choices to access community and informational resources as well as perceptions about the quality and quantity of those resources. The research for this study will result in a written analysis, which will be shared with participants, community-based organizations and other providers of informational and social resources for mixed-race and LGBTQ families as well as the possible creation of resources specifically for mixed-race LGBTQ families.

 Discussion Questions

As a member of an interracial same-sex family, or organization that may provide resources for members of these families, your thoughts and experiences are important to determine the ways in which families like yours are created, the challenges that are faced and the resources that are accessed for supported. Some examples of the types of questions we may discuss include: Who are the members of your family? How did you create your family? What are some challenges that your family has to deal with? What books, websites or other literary resources do you currently choose to access? What books, websites or other literary resources would you like to have? What community-based resources do you choose to access? What community-based resources would you like to have? How do you perceive media representation of families like your? How do you perceive your level of social connection with similar families?

 Your Participation
Your participation in this study will involve a one-on-one interview that will include open-ended questions about your own thoughts and experiences on these topics. I will tape record our conversation and then transcribe and compare them with other interviews. Your participation in completely voluntary and you may decline to participate or withdraw at any time. You may also decline to answer specific questions. All participants will remain confidential and you will have the ability to read my analysis before publication. If you want to discuss this project and your participation in further detail, please feel free to contact Joy MacTavish-Unten at 206.225.8295 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it