Children Of Gay And Lesbian Parents example essay topic

Introduction The sexuality and development of children with gay parents must be most affected by the rearing of the gay parents. Does having gay parents affect a child's mental health and growth? Can education and socialization be decreased with the presence of gay parents? How could it be possible that children are not affected by having two parents of the same sex? Doesn't this cause some gender confusion for the child? How can a child develop properly without the experience of both a male and female role model?

Will the child be at risk for molestation of a homosexual parent? A female teaches the child how to love, be caring, and offers a maternal nurturing that only a mother can give while a male teaches a child to be strong, disciplined, and offers a paternal upbringing. Don't children need both of these gender advantages to be a straight, gender stable child? If this balance is broken, is it impossible for a child to be attracted strictly to the opposite sex? Will all children of same sex marriages become homosexual themselves in the future, or are people born homosexuals? Is there a hormonal imbalance in gay men and women?

There would have to be some type of female hormone that homosexual males have an abnormal amount of to become gay, and the females would have to possess a high level of male hormone to be a lesbian. Do genetics have anything to do with whether or not a person is gay? If so, how would we ever be able to tell if homosexuality is an inborn trait or is simply caused by the upbringing of a child? Homosexual children are born to heterosexual parents every day. So, why would a homosexual parent have to have a heterosexual child? And does it make a difference if the child is adopted or born through a surrogate with either the father or the mother being gay and looking to raise the child with their gay partner?

Review of Literature A study was done with a two year old boy who was withdrawn in class. It was noted that he was raised by two lesbian women. Dr. Ellen C. Perrin of the New England Medical Center reports, "There is extensive scientific evidence that these children encounter no increased risks in their educational, cognitive, emotional, or sexual development compared with children who grow up with heterosexual parents". (Steiner 2002). "Research suggests that the children of gay and lesbian parents have similar psychological adjustment to children growing up in more traditional family structures". (Ray 1998).

According to Perrin (2002), there are definitely differences in the life experiences of heterosexual and homosexual parented children, but these include no negative effects. It has been shown through research that children raised by homosexual parents are more nurturing, recognize emotional situations, and show less aggressive interactions. The way that parents communicate and interact with their children shows much more effect on development than the sexual preference of their parents, claims Perrin (2002). The question is raised as to whether a child needs a mother and father role model. Conservatives say 'yes,' but all of the research that they have acquired is based "fellow conservative groups". (Neff 2004).

"Nearly 50 studies show there are no significant developmental differences between the children of gay parents and the children of straight parents". (Neff 2004). In fact, gay parenting is supported by many psychological organizations like the National Association of Social Workers and the American Psychological Association. Children tend not to be confused by their gender role. In a study, research showed that 20 of 21 children correctly identified a favorite toy consistent with their gender. (Patterson, 1992).

There is no more male hormone in a lesbian than in a heterosexual female. This was proven by a study done with 12 heterosexually parented children and 12 homosexually parented children. The study showed that the children "did not differ in masculinity or androgyny". (Patterson, 1992). In fact, the study found that there is a greater femininity in the children of homosexual females than in heterosexual parents. Children seem not to be damaged by the role of gay parents.

Dr. Ruth McNair from the University of Melbourne claims, "The main damage to children of lesbian and gay parents or people born of surrogates came not from their parents, but from society's prejudices". (Bachelard 2004). In fact, some studies have even shown that "gay parents may prevail over heterosexual parents" because they are never forced to raise babies that may be unplanned or accidents. (Pearson 2004). As for the misconception of gay child molestation, it has been proven that a heterosexual male is more likely to violate a child than a homosexual male or female. (Victor 1995).

When it comes to the sexual orientation of the children of homosexual parents, Dr. Ruth McNair found that children are more likely to experiment with same sex partners, but are not more likely to become sexually attracted to the same sex. (Bachelard 2004). In one study, Dr. L. Green found that only 1 child of 37 children observed showed "atypical sex orientation" in a gay parented family. (Cramer 1986). Researchers Go lombok and Tasker found that after surveying 39 children from gay parented families that "after extensive psychological, intelligence, social and personality testing, it was found that no significant difference existed between the psychosocial status of the children of lesbian mothers and those of heterosexual mothers". (Ray 1998).

Chan and Ra boy found that donor insemination have no significant role in the sexual orientation or development of a child after observing 55 lesbian headed families along with 25 heterosexually headed households. (Ray 1998). In yet another study, experimenters found that all 4 children headed by gay parents reported only heterosexual fantasies while research done by Miller in 1979 provided that only 8% of children raised by gay parents turned out to be gay themselves. This number was "within expected percentages of the population at large". (Patterson 1992). One major question is if the parents cause the child to be gay or if the orientation of the child is inborn or genetic.

"Scientists are providing compelling evidence that gay men are born homosexual". (Shapiro, 1992). Although these studies are more compelling than studies showing that homosexuality is not inborn, I did pursue one study that questioned the significance of genetics on homosexuality stating, "Only 3 pairs of identical male twins were both homosexual out of a total of 27 male identical twin pairs where at least one twin was homosexual". (Jones, 1999). In contrast, the more praised studies have shown that, parallel with genetic expectations, an identical twin brother is 52% more likely to be gay if his "identical twin is homosexual in orientation". (Shapiro, 1992).

Results and Conclusions My hypothesis was not proven because the sexuality and development of children raised by gay parents is not most affected by the rearing of the gay parent themselves. There are many factors that contribute to the development and sexual orientation of a child, but there is not enough research to find that having heterosexual or homosexual parents is one of them. Although the development of a child does depend on the parent, the sexual orientation of the parent does not play a significant part in a child's sexual orientation or development. The way that a child develops is most determined through the amount of communication, warmth, love, and appropriate standards and limits that a family exhibits. Although gay families continue to be discriminated against, their children show no significant or negative differences than children of heterosexual parents.

"Homosexual parents have the same capacity to raise a child as do heterosexual parents". (Pearson 2004). This may be true, but lawmakers fail to see the research and only view this issue in a moral way. Laws still prevent gays from being legally married in almost every state. Even parents in divorce are less likely to gain custody of the child if one parent is found to be gay. (Cramer 1986)".

No evidence of special difficulties in gender identification among children of lesbian mothers has emerged". (Patterson, 1992). I found no research that would suggest that having gay parents makes the child gay. All of the research that I found supported gay parenting due to the fact that their children possessed no significant differences in gender identification. Gay children do face more questioning and harassment from peers, but according to research, they are able to face these questions and harassment with more ease because of the nurturing and loving environments that the gay couple provides their child. They talk to the child more and are more open.

(Pearson 2004). This makes for little room to become discouraged by children's comments. "In summary, there is no credible scientific evidence that children whose parents are gay or lesbian are at a disadvantage in emotional, cognitive, or social functioning compared with children whose parents are heterosexual. There do seem to be some differences in their interpersonal skills and emotional expressiveness that may set them apart from some of their peers". (Perrin 2002). I think that the conservative vote against gay marriage and gay parenting will make it difficult to increase that number of children in gay families.

Although I support gay parenting, I was very surprised to find that the child shows absolutely no gender confusion or lacks a masculine or feminine role in the family. I think that there is enough studies and research to show that gay parenting has as much validity as heterosexual parenting, and this should be the deciding factor in allowing gay parenting not moral issues or standards. Everything should be in the child's best interest, and if a gay parent can do the same job as a heterosexual parent without any significant differences, let them do it. After all, aren't all men and women supposed to be created equal in the United States?