6: The Positive and Negative Experiences of Gay and Lesbian Married Couples in the Maltese Educational System: A Critical Pedagogical Perspective

The purpose of this study is to consummate an insight into the experiences of married gay and lesbian Maltese couples in the education of their children. To realize the study’s aims, six semi-structured interviews were held with three married gay couples and three married lesbian couples who have children who are in the compulsory education system in Malta. Thematic Analysis was employed as a methodological framework thereby enabling a structured exploration of the emergent themes. Critical Pedagogy was utilized as a theoretical framework to encourage the critical challenging of the dominant knowledge systems that unquestionably perpetuate the marginalization of gay and lesbian parents, and their children. The central themes identified relate to the positive and negative experiences of the same-sex parents. The study’s critical analysis sheds light on the idiosyncratic personal journeys of the informants, yet it points to the enduring lack of social justice within both the local educational system and the broader Maltese society. This study underscores the need for improved teacher training and calls for a holistic approach that combines bottom-up efforts of advocates with the effective implementation of policies from the top-down, ensuring that inclusivity becomes a reality for rainbow families.