Cultural life scripts refer to typical life events and their expected timing within a given culture. Although life scripts tend to be substantially similar across cultures, a few studies examining subcultures (e.g., ethnicity, religious affiliation) reported some differences in event content (Bohn & Bundgaard-Nielsen, 2021) and normativity (Hatiboğlu & Habermas, 2016; Tungjitcharoen & Berntsen, 2022). Here, we report data from a study exploring life story events and life scripts of a subsection of society: LGBQ individuals in Turkey. We collected life scripts and life story events from LGBQ and cis-heterosexual adults living in Turkey. Participants also filled out questionnaires regarding well-being and life satisfaction, along with questions on sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Life story–life script overlap was stronger for cis-heterosexuals than for the LGBQ group largely due to differences in life script typicality. Well-being was associated with life script positivity for cis-heterosexual participants but with life story positivity for LGBQ participants. Results are discussed in terms of life script framework and identity development.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer (LGBQ) women and men are increasingly utilizing fertility treatment services to build their families. This chapter provides an overview of topics to consider when providing fertility counseling to this population of prospective parents. It first explores the decisions that same-sex couples need to make with regard to family building and fertility treatment, including various routes to parenthood, whose gametes to use, or who will serve as the carrier. The chapter further explores many of the challenges couples often face during fertility treatment via the sexual minority stress framework. Particular attention is given to issues of homophobic discrimination, heteronormative bias and stigma, as well as to challenges related to social support, costs and legal rights. Finally, this chapter provides guidance to fertility counselors and treatment professionals on steps to take to provide culturally competent care to LGBQ patients and their partners. Such practices are crucial for offering an inclusive treatment environment to support same-sex couples in their family-building efforts.