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AbstractObjectiveWe investigated heterosexual and nonheterosexual Chinese international students' views about cooperative marriages and romantic relationships.BackgroundCooperative marriages and romantic relationships are those in which two partners, one or both of whom self‐identify as nonheterosexual, consent and pretend to be a heterosexual couple as a means of relieving social pressures that require involvement in heterosexual relationships (Kam, 2013).MethodIn total, 265 Chinese international students (Mage = 23 years) participated in an online survey; 210 self‐identified as heterosexual and 55 as members of sexual minority groups.ResultsStudents who identified as members of sexual minority groups reported few aspirations and unfavorable attitudes toward cooperative marriages and relationships. Of the students identifying as members of sexual minority groups, those who envisioned future residence in foreign countries reported fewer aspirations for such relationships than their nonheterosexual peers who anticipated returning to China. Moreover, regardless of sexual identities, students who reported higher endorsement of traditional cultural values held less negative attitudes toward such relationships. For students who identified as members of sexual minority groups, stronger acculturation to the U.S. culture was associated with more negative attitudes toward such relationships.ConclusionOur study found that Chinese international students identifying as members of sexual minority groups held unfavorable views about cooperative marriage and it highlighted the role of transnational mobility and cultures in these views.ImplicationsOur study implied the importance of cultural responsiveness in how health practitioners could better support individuals of diverse sexual identities and cultural backgrounds.

AbstractAre empirical data and results of research by social scientists relevant to court decisions in foster care cases, and if so, how? How should they be brought to the court's attention? These questions arose in the context of Fulton v. City of Philadelphia (2021), a recent U.S. Supreme Court case that posed the question of whether a religiously based foster care agency could refuse to provide service to LGBTQ+ prospective foster parents on the grounds of religious beliefs, and still accept public funds. Empirical evidence is relevant to the evaluation of at least three propositions related to foster care that were raised in Fulton: (1) There is a need for qualified prospective foster parents; (2) LGBTQ+ adults are at least as likely as others to be interested in becoming foster parents and they are likely to become competent foster parents; and (3) If sufficient numbers of qualified prospective foster parents cannot be found, children are likely to suffer. Consideration of the evidence reveals that each of these three propositions is supported by factual evidence. In the United States today, there is a definite need for competent foster parents, and competence as a foster or adoptive parent is not associated with parental sexual orientation. Moreover, LGBTQ+ adults may be more likely to show interest in becoming foster parents, on average, than their heterosexual peers. If LGBTQ+ adults are not permitted to become foster parents, some children are very likely to remain without homes, and in this way, will suffer. If the best interests of children are to prevail, then child welfare agencies should search out, welcome, and support LGBTQ+ prospective foster parents, rather than turning them away. Ways of bringing the findings from research to the attention of the court are also discussed.