In recent years, sociologists have explored the many ways heterosexuality and gender conformity are normalized through the interactions children have with their parents, their peers and in their schools. University of Michigan professor Karin A. Martin explains that most parents assume their children are going to be heterosexual, describe romantic relationships to children as if they are all heterosexual, and make invisible or fail to include LGBTQ adults in their child’s life. For those parents with reason to think their child might be gay, lesbian or gender nonconforming, most adopt a “cross fingers and hope for hetero” approach to parenting or, in some cases, actively discourage homosexuality or gender nonconformity in their children. Though some parents make attempts to prepare their child for life as an LGBTQ adult, she tells us, that is an uncommon reaction.