Dr. LAU Hi Po, BoboBoboDr. LAU Hi PoHuang, Yu-TeYu-TeHuangForth, Marty W.Marty W.ForthGietel-Basten, StuartStuartGietel-Basten2023-10-242023-10-242023Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 2023, Vol. 20, pp. 1267-1275.1553-66101868-9884http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11861/8364Introduction This study capitalized on prospective legal change in Taiwan to capture changes in gay men’s desires and attitudes toward parenthood as a function of the legalization of same-sex marriage (SSM). Methods A panel of 731 gay men (mean age = 26.8 years ± 5.81) completed an online survey between 2019 and 2020, shortly before and 1½ years after the legalization of SSM, to report their parenting desire, marital status, and attitudes toward parenthood and marriage. Results This study found that fewer participants in the follow-up survey expressed a parenting desire (59.0% vs. 74.2%), and the perceived importance of parenthood dropped mildly (3.48 to 3.26, Cohen’s d = 0.269). Those who expressed a consistent parenting desire attached greater importance to SSM. The perceived importance of SSM was modestly and positively related to the perceived importance of having a child. Conclusion Although the decrease in parenting desire and its perceived importance may be attributable to a lack of access to family-building options (e.g., surrogacy and adoption) and the COVID-19 pandemic, our findings illustrate that parenthood might become a next step for some Taiwanese male same-sex couples who married or considered marriage. Policy Implications The study findings provide information for policymakers to gauge the possible number of sexual minority men who might want to have a child and consider resource allocation and deliberation on policy changes related to reproduction.enParenting DesirePerceived Importance of ParenthoodSame-Sex Marriage LegalizationTaiwanGay MenDoes same-sex marriage legalization make gay men want to have children? findings from a panel study in TaiwanPeer Reviewed Journal Article10.1007/s13178-023-00801-7