Article from Family Is Family Is Family at GLRL Website.....
Lesbians and gay men as parents: what the research says
A considerable amount of sociological and psychological research has been conducted over the past 25 years to examine the effect a parent's sexual orientation has on the welfare and development of their children. The findings comparing lesbian and gay parents to heterosexual parents refute common stereotypes and concerns about lesbian and gay parenting.
It has been clearly demonstrated that the sexuality of a child's parents has no connection to the child's moral and cognitive development, well-being or happiness. When comparing children of heterosexual parents to children of lesbians and gay men no significant differences have been found in the social adjustment, social acceptance, or sociability of the children.
Nor has any difference in the children's peer relations such as quality of friendships or popularity been illustrated. In addition, no discernible differences have been found in the children of heterosexual or homosexual parents regarding a child's gender role identification or sexual orientation.
The most important factor in a child's upbringing has been identified as the care and love put into a child's life. Lesbians and gay men display matched capability at loving and caring for their children as their heterosexual counterparts.
For further information see the GLRL report, Meet the Parents.
Research has shown that family processes, not family structures, are determinative of children's well being.
That is, the happiness of the relationship between the adults in the home, and the degree of openness, warmth and communication within the family, not the gender or sexuality of the adults, has the most significant impact on the child.
It is not having a gay and lesbian parent that disadvantages a child; it is the government's discriminatory laws.
