Envisioning family, but where? Parenthood-related geographic preferences among childless LGB and heterosexual adults in Ecuador.

INTRODUCTION

Research on parenthood aspirations among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults has expanded, yet little is known about the geographic contexts in which parenthood is envisioned, particularly in the Global South. This question has practical relevance because unequal legal recognition, social acceptance, economic opportunity, and personal safety may make the exercise of family formation rights partly contingent on mobility.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional convergent mixed-methods survey, we examined parenthood-related geographic preferences among 184 childless cisgender adults residing in Ecuador who expressed a desire to become parents (LGB: n = 71; heterosexual: n = 113). Closed-ended responses were analyzed quantitatively; and open-ended explanations were examined using content analysis.

RESULTS

LGB participants more frequently preferred living abroad than heterosexual participants, Yates-corrected χ 2(1, N = 184) = 9.54, p = 0.002, Cramér's V = 0.24. In a logistic regression (n = 177), heterosexual participants had lower adjusted odds of preferring another country than LGB participants (aOR = 0.26, 95% CI [0.12, 0.56], p < 0.001). Open-ended responses showed that better opportunities and quality of life were salient across groups, while a subset of LGB participants additionally referred to restrictive social attitudes or limited recognition of same-gender-parent families. Among participants preferring another country, Spain, the United States, and Canada were the most frequently identified destinations. These preferences reflect anticipated conditions rather than migration plans or behavior.

DISCUSSION: Overall, these findings suggest that material conditions and anticipated social environments shape where prospective parents imagine family formation, with sexuality-related constraints playing a particularly relevant role for some LGB adults in Ecuador. Thus, this study contributes to emerging scholarship by integrating perspectives on family formation and mobility in underexamined Global South settings.