LGBT parenting

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LGBT parenting occurs when lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people are parents to one or more children, either through adoption, fostering, surrogacy, donor-insemination, a previous relationship or a current relationship. LGBT parents can also include single people who are parenting; to a lesser extent, the term sometimes refers to families with LGBT children.

In the 2000 U.S. Census, 33 percent of female same-sex couple households and 22 percent of male same-sex couple households reported at least one child under eighteen living in their home.^[1] Some children do not know they have an LGB parent; coming out issues vary and some parents may never come out to their children.^[2][3] LGBT parenting in general, and adoption by LGBT couples in particular, are issues of ongoing political controversy in many Western countries, often seen as part of culture wars between conservatives and social liberals. In January 2008, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that same-sex couples have the right to adopt a child.^[4][5] In the U.S., LGB people can legally adopt in all states except for Florida.^[6]

The scientific research has consistently shown that lesbian and gay parents are as fit and capable as heterosexual parents.^[7][8][9] Research has documented that there is no relationship between parents' sexual orientation and any measure of a child's emotional, psychosocial, and behavioral adjustment.^{[7][8][9][10]} The literature indicates that parents’ financial, psychological and physical well-being is enhanced by marriage and that children benefit from being raised by two parents within a legally-recognized union.^[7][8][10]

Forms of LGBT parenting

Many LGBT people are parents through various means including current or former relationships, adoption, donor insemination, and surrogacy; LGBT people are eligible to act as Foster caregivers in some countries (such as the UK). A lesbian or gay man may have children within a mixed-orientation marriage either because of a fear of discrimination, to manage ego-dystonic sexual orientation, affection or love,^[11] desire for family,^[12] or spiritual reasons.^{[13][14][15][16][17]} Also, some children do not know they have an LGBT parent.^{[18] [19]}

Controversy

LGBT parenting in general (and adoption by LGBT couples in particular) is an issue of ongoing political controversy in many Western countries and is often seen as a part of culture wars between religious and social conservatives which oppose LGBT adoptions and social liberals.^{[citation needed]} In January 2008, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that same-sex couples have the right to adopt a child.^[20][21] In the U.S., LGBT people can legally adopt in all states except for Florida.^[22]

Demographics

Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people are parents. In the 2000 U.S. Census, for example, 33 percent of female same-sex couple households and 22 percent of male same-sex couple households reported at least one child under the age of 18 living in the home.^[1] As of 2005, an estimated 270,313 children in the United States live in households headed by same-sex couples.^[23]

Parenting practices and children’s outcomes

This article contains too many quotations for an encyclopedic entry. Please help improve the article by removing excessive quotations or transferring them to Wikiquote. Help is available. (August 2009)

Male same-sex couple with child.

The social science literature overwhelmingly rejects the notion that there is an optimal gender mix of parents or that children and adolescents with same-sex parents suffer any developmental disadvantages compared with those with two oppositesex parents.^[24][9] The professionals and the major associations now agree there is a well established and accepted consensus in the field that there is no optimal gender combination of parents.^[25][26]

Dr. Stephen Hicks of the University of Salford^[27] questions the value of trying to establish that lesbian or gay parents are defective or suitable, arguing such positions are flawed because they are informed by ideologies that either oppose or support such families.^[28] In Hicks' view, "Instead of asking whether gay parenting is bad for kids, I think we should ask how contemporary discourses of sexuality maintain the very idea that lesbian and gay families are essentially different and, indeed, deficient. But, in order to ask this, I think that we need a wider range of research into lesbian and gay parenting... More work of this sort will help us to ask more complex questions about forms of parenting that continue to offer some novel and challenging approaches to family life." ^[28]

Family law

Entering into marriage

Prenuptial agreement Marriage Common-law marriage Same-sex marriage

Legal states similar to marriage

Cohabitation · Civil union Domestic partnership Registered partnership Putative marriage

Dissolution of marriage

Annulment · Divorce · Alimony

Issues affecting children

Paternity · Legitimacy · Adoption Legal guardian · Foster care Ward · Emancipation of minors Grandparent visitation Child Protective Services (United States) Parental responsibility Contact (including visitation) Residence in English law Custody · Child support

Related areas

Spousal abuse · Child abuse Child abduction · Child marriage Adultery · Bigamy · Incest

Conflict of laws

Marriage · Nullity · Divorce

v • d • e

Research that has uncovered interesting differences in child outcomes indirectly connected with having lesbian or gay parents notes that the connections are not causal, and that there are no differences between heterosexual and lesbian or gay families that are of social concern.^[29]

As noted by Professor Judith Stacey, of New York University: “Rarely is there as much consensus in any area of social science as in the case of gay parenting, which is why the American Academy of Pediatrics and all of the major professional organizations with expertise in child welfare have issued reports and resolutions in support of gay and lesbian parental rights”.^[30] The American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association and National Association of Social Workers have stated in an Amicus curiae brief presented to the Supreme Court of the State of California:

The scientific research that has directly compared outcomes for children with gay and lesbian parents with outcomes for children with heterosexual parents has been remarkably consistent in showing that lesbian and gay parents are every bit as fit and capable as heterosexual parents, and their children are as psychologically healthy and well-adjusted as children reared by heterosexual parents. Amici emphasize that the abilities of gay and lesbian persons as parents and the positive outcomes for their children are not areas where credible scientific researchers disagree. Statements by the leading associations of experts in this area reflect professional consensus that children raised by lesbian or gay parents do not differ in any important respects from those raised by heterosexual parents. No credible empirical research suggests otherwise. Allowing same-sex couples to legally marry will not have any detrimental effect on children raised in heterosexual households, but it will benefit children being raised by same-sex couples.^[31]

The American Academy of Pediatrics has stated in Pediatrics, the most-cited journal in the field of pediatrics: "More than 25 years of research have documented that there is no relationship between parents' sexual orientation and any measure of a child's emotional, psychosocial, and behavioral adjustment. These data have demonstrated no risk to children as a result of growing up in a family with 1 or more gay parents. Conscientious and nurturing adults, whether they are men or women, heterosexual or homosexual, can be excellent parents."^[10] The Australian Psychological Society has stated:

The family studies literature indicates that it is family processes (such as the quality of parenting and relationships within the family) that contribute to determining children’s wellbeing and ‘outcomes’, rather than family structures, per se, such as the number, gender, sexuality and co-habitation status of parents. The research indicates that parenting practices and children’s outcomes in families parented by lesbian and gay parents are likely to be at least as favourable as those in families of heterosexual parents, despite the reality that considerable legal discrimination and inequity remain significant challenges for these families.^[9]

Canadian Psychological Association has issued similar position ^[32] Gregory M. Herek, a professor of psychology at the University of California at Davis and one of the leading scholars in the area of sexual orientation research, published the scientific evidence in The American Psychologist, the leading academic journal in the field of psychology. Herek noted:

Despite considerable variation in the quality of their samples, research design, measurement methods, and data analysis techniques, the findings to date have been remarkably consistent. Empirical research to date has consistently failed to find linkages between children’s well-being and the sexual orientation of their parents. If gay, lesbian, or bisexual parents were inherently less capable than otherwise comparable heterosexual parents, their children would evidence problems regardless of the type of sample. This pattern clearly has not been observed.^[33]

Gay and lesbian parental rights

Mainstream organizations supporting gay and lesbian parental rights are in the United States the American Psychiatric Association, the National Association of Social Workers, Child Welfare League of America, the American Bar Association, the North American Council on Adoptable Children, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychoanalytic Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians,^[34] in the United Kingdom, the Royal College of Psychiatrists^[35], and in Canada, the Canadian Psychological Association.^[8] The American Psychological Association supports adoption and parenting by same-sex couples, citing social prejudice as harming the psychological health of lesbians and gays while noting there is no empiric evidence that their parenting causes harm.^[36][37][38] The American Medical Association has issued a similar position supporting same-sex adoption, stating that while there is little evidence against LGBT parenting, lack of formal recognition can cause health-care disparities for children of same-sex parents.^[39] The Canadian Psychological Association is concerned that some persons and institutions are mis-interpreting the findings of psychological research to support their positions, when their positions are more accurately based on other systems of belief or values.^[8]

Gender role models

Where some studies have shown that children raised by lesbian mothers conform to stereotypical gender-role behaviour, researchers have observed more relaxed boundaries in sex-typed play (dolls versus trucks) and in gender-stereotypical career aspirations among such children.^[40] The argument that same-sex parents are unsuitable for the same reason that single parenting is not an optimal situation hinges on the assumption that children of single-parent households suffer due to a lack of gender role models, rather than due to a lack of parental care and supervision associated with single parenting.^[41] Whether studies on single-parent families necessarily relate to parental gender roles or to the quality of parenting provided by same-sex couples is challenged, such as stated in a 2006 report by the Department of Justice (Canada), that it is "independent of the sexual orientation of parents."^[42]

Sexuality of children

According to Gregory Herek

In terms of sexual development, discussions sometimes focus on whether the children of lesbian, gay, or bisexual parents are disproportionately likely to experience same-sex erotic attractions or to identify as gay. The relevance of this question to policy is dubious because homosexuality is neither an illness nor a disability, and the mental health professions do not regard a homosexual or bisexual orientation as harmful, undesirable, or requiring intervention or prevention. More than 30 years ago, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a decision that has been strongly supported by the American Psychological Association (2004). Some theorists have suggested that it would be surprising if no association existed between the sexual orientation of parents and that of their children, but empirical data addressing this question are limited. Although much research has examined the possible influences of genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural variables on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or set of factors. To the extent that data are available, however, they show that the vast majority of children raised by lesbian and gay parents eventually grow up to be heterosexual.^[43]

Researchers concluded that there were no differences between heterosexual and lesbian or gay families that were of social concern.^[44]

See also

References

External links

• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Parented Families - A Literature Review prepared for The Australian Psychological Society (2007)
• Too High a Price - The Case Against Restricting Gay Parenting (updated second edition) (2006), a publication by the ACLU, includes a detailed review of studies and research.
• American Psychological Association (APA) Public Interest Directorate: Research Summary on Lesbian and Gay Parenting (2005)
• Brief presented to the Legislative House of Commons Committee on Bill C38 By the Canadian Psychological Association (2005)
• [1] - Rainbow Rumpus, the magazine for kids with LGBT parents
• Greenwood and Fink - all legal services for same sex adopting couples and more. - Providing a path to gay and lesbian adoption: all legal services, access to obstetric and pediatric medical services, accommodations, social services, concierge services and other resources.
• site on gay parent, testimonial, co-parent - dating between gays and lesbians

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