LGBT parenting
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LGBT parenting refers to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people parenting one or more children. Gay men face options that include "foster care, variations of domestic and international adoption, diverse forms of surrogacy (whether "traditional" or gestational), and kinship arrangements, wherein they might coparent with a woman or women with whom they are intimately but not sexually involved."[1] 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.[2] Some children do not know they have an LGBT parent; coming out issues vary and some parents may never come out to their children.[3][4] In January 2008, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that same-sex couples have the right to adopt a child.[5][6] In the U.S., LGBT people can legally adopt in all states except for Florida.[7]
There is a consensus among credible scientific researchers which confirms the abilities of gay and lesbian persons as parents, and finds positive outcomes for their children. 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.[8][9] 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.[10]
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Forms of LGBT parenting
Many LGBT people are parents through various means including current or former relationships, Coparenting, 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.[3][4]
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.[2] As of 2005, an estimated 270,313 children in the United States live in households headed by same-sex couples.[18]
Legal issues
Same-sex adoption
Several countries allow same-sex couples to adopt children, while most jurisdictions prohibit them from doing so. Some jurisdictions limit adoption by same-sex couples to step-parent adoption, where one partner in a same-sex couple can legally adopt the children of the partner. Adoption by indvidual LGBT persons is also legal in some jurisdictions.
In January 2008, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that same-sex couples have the right to adopt a child.[5][19] In all U.S. states except for Florida, unmarried LGBT adults can petition to adopt a child. Granting the petition is left to the discretion of a judge.[7]
Same-sex marriage
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.[20]
LGBT adoption is often raised as an issue in debates over legalizing same-sex marriage both by proponents, who argue that LGBT parents should receive equal benefit from marriage laws, and opponents, who argue that same-sex marriage will lead to increased incidences of LGBT adoption.
Children’s outcomes
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Society’s early assumptions about the superiority of the traditional family form have been challenged by the results of empirical research. Early in the Twentieth Century, it was widely believed that traditional family settings were necessary in order for children to adjust well. Since the 1970s, it has become increasingly clear that it is family processes (such as the quality of parenting, the psychosocial well-being of parents, the quality of and satisfaction with relationships within the family, and the level of co-operation and harmony between parents) that contribute to determining children’s well-being and ‘outcomes’, rather than family structures, per se, such as the number, gender, sexuality and co-habitation status of parents.[21][22][23] Since the end of the 1980s, as a result, it has been well established that children and adolescents can adjust just as well in nontraditional settings as in traditional settings.[22]
Although it is sometimes asserted in policy debates that heterosexual couples are inherently better parents than same-sex couples, or that the children of lesbian or gay parents fare worse than children raised by heterosexual parents, those assertions find no support in the scientific research literature.[24][25][21][26][22] In fact, the promotion of this notion, and the laws and public policies that embody it, are clearly counter to the well-being of children.[21] No research supports the widely held conviction that the gender of parents matters for child well-being.[27][21][22] Society is replete with role models from whom children and adolescents can learn about socially prescribed male and female roles.[22]
Indeed, 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,[24][9][21][28][23][29] despite the reality that considerable legal discrimination and inequity remain significant challenges for these families.[21] These data have demonstrated no risk to children as a result of growing up in a family with 1 or more gay parents.[30]
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.[24]
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. Given the consistent failures in this research literature to disprove the null hypothesis, the burden of empirical proof is on those who argue that the children of sexual minority parents fare worse than the children of heterosexual parents.[31] The Canadian Psychological Association is concerned that some 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.[9]
According to the Maine Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics "Those who claim that children need a biologically related mother and father to flourish are either ignorant of the scientific literature or are misrepresenting it or both. With all respects people are entitled to their beliefs and even their biases but it is plainly wrong to call those beliefs and biases science."[32] 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.[8][20][30][22]
Most of the studies appeared in rigorously peer-reviewed and highly selective journals, whose standards represent expert consensus on generally accepted social scientific standards for research on child and adolescent development.[22]
Professor Judith Stacey, of New York University, stated: “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”.[33] These organizations include the American Academy of Pediatrics,[30] the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,[34] the American Psychiatric Association,[35] the American Psychological Association [36], the American Psychoanalytic Association [37], the National Association of Social Workers,[24] the Child Welfare League of America,[38] the North American Council on Adoptable Children,[39] and Canadian Psychological Association.[40]
Dr. Stephen Hicks of the University of Salford[41] 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.[42] 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." [42]
Gregory M. Herek noted that empirical research can’t reconcile disputes about core values, but it is very good at addressing questions of fact. Policy debates will be impoverished if this important source of knowledge is simply dismissed as a “he said, she said” squabble.[43]
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.[44]
Sexuality of children
Children raised by same-sex parents are not more likely to have same-sex orientations themselves.[22][45] According to Stacey & Biblarz more research is needed into the area of sexuality:
| “ | We know very little yet about how parents influence the development of their children's sexual identities or how these intersect with gender... We need comparable data for children reared by single heterosexual mothers or exclusively by men to distinguish the impact of gender from sexual identity here[46] | ” |
See also
- LGBT adoption
- Same-sex marriage and the family
- Surrogacy
- Third party reproduction
Medical:
- Artificial insemination
- Assisted reproductive technology
- Female sperm
- In vitro fertilisation
- Male egg
- Sperm donation
Regional:
- LGBT rights in Brazil
- LGBT rights in Europe
- LGBT rights in Australia
- Same-sex adoption in Brazil
References
- ↑ Berkowitz, D & Marsiglio, W (2007). Gay Men: Negotiating Procreative, Father, and Family Identities. Journal of Marriage and Family 69 (May 2007): 366–381
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 APA Policy Statement on Sexual Orientation, Parents & Children, American Psychological Association, July 28 & 30, 2004. Retrieved on 2007-04-06.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Dunne EJ (1987). "Helping gay fathers come out to their children". Journal of Homosexuality 14 (1–2): 213–22. doi:10.1300/J082v14n01_16. PMID 3655343.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 A Family Matter: When a Spouse Comes Out as Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 EMRK is for the LGBT adoption
- ↑ Euronews: Gleichgeschlechtliche Adoptiveltern – Gerichtshof rügt Frankreich (german)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Adoption Laws: State by State". Human Rights Campaign. http://www.hrc.org/issues/parenting/adoptions/2375.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Case No. S147999 in the Supreme Court of the State of California, In re Marriage Cases Judicial Council Coordination Proceeding No. 4365, Application for leave to file brief amici curiae in support of the parties challenging the marriage exclusion, and brief amici curiae of the American Psychological Association, California Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, National Association of Social Workers, and National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter in support of the parties challenging the marriage exclusion
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Marriage of Same-Sex Couples – 2006 Position Statement Canadian Psychological Association
- ↑ Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Relationships in the United States by Gregory M. Herek
- ↑ Butler, Katy (March 7, 2006). "Many Couples Must Negotiate Terms of 'Brokeback' Marriages". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/07/health/07broke.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin.
- ↑ Gay Men from Heterosexual Marriages: Attitudes, Behaviors, Childhood Experiences, and Reasons for Marriage
- ↑ Gay, Mormon, married
- ↑ Moore, Carrie A. (March 30, 2007). "Gay LDS men detail challenges". Deseret Morning News. http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660207378,00.html.
- ↑ Bozett, Frederick W. (1987). "The Heterosexually Married Gay and Lesbian Parent". Gay and Lesbian Parents. New York: Praeger. p. 138. ISBN 0275925412. http://books.google.com/?id=yffzsKWvP6AC&pg=PA138.
- ↑ Büntzly G (1993). "Gay fathers in straight marriages". Journal of Homosexuality 24 (3–4): 107–14. doi:10.1300/J082v24n03_07. PMID 8505530.
- ↑ The Married Lesbian
- ↑ Williams Institute: Census Snapshot – United States
- ↑ Euronews: Gleichgeschlechtliche Adoptiveltern – Gerichtshof rügt Frankreich (german)
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Canadian Psychological Association: Marriage of Same-Sex Couples – 2006 Position Statement Canadian Psychological Association
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 Elizabeth Short, Damien W. Riggs, Amaryll Perlesz, Rhonda Brown, Graeme Kane: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Parented Families – A Literature Review prepared for The Australian Psychological Society
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 22.6 22.7 Michael Lamb, Ph.D.: Affidavit – United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts (2009)
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Un estudio de la UPV resalta la educación en tolerancia de parejas homosexuales
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 Case No. S147999 in the Supreme Court of the State of California, In re Marriage Cases Judicial Council Coordination Proceeding No. 4365, Application for leave to file brief amici curiae in support of the parties challenging the marriage exclusion, and brief amici curiae of the American Psychological Association, California Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, National Association of Social Workers, and National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter in support of the parties challenging the marriage exclusion
- ↑ Canadian Psychological Association: Brief presented to the Legislative House of Commons Committee on Bill C38 By the Canadian Psychological Association June 2, 2005.
- ↑ Children's Development of Social Competence Across Family Types
- ↑ (How) Does the Sexual Orientation of Parent's Matter?
- ↑ Familie ist dort, wo Kinder sind – Zypries stellt Forschungsprojekt vor
- ↑ Nanette Gartrell, MDHenny Bos, PhD (July 2010). "US National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study: Psychological Adjustment of 17-Year-Old Adolescents". Pediatrics 126 (1): 349–64. doi:10.1542/peds.2009-3153v1. PMID 20530080. available online: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/peds.2009-3153v1
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 Pawelski JG, Perrin EC, Foy JM, et al. (July 2006). "The effects of marriage, civil union, and domestic partnership laws on the health and well-being of children". Pediatrics 118 (1): 349–64. doi:10.1542/peds.2006-1279. PMID 16818585.
- ↑ Herek GM (September 2006). "Legal recognition of same-sex relationships in the United States: a social science perspective". The American Psychologist 61 (6): 607–21. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.61.6.607. PMID 16953748. http://wedding.thejons.net/homework/optional_readings.pdf.
- ↑ Dr. Dan Summers, American Academy of Pediatrics, Maine Chapter
- ↑ cited in Cooper & Cates, 2006, p. 36; citation available on http://www.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/LGBT-Families-Lit-Review.pdf
- ↑ Children with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Parents
- ↑ Adoption and Co-parenting of Children by Same-sex Couples
- ↑ Sexual Orientation, Parents, & Children
- ↑ Position Statement on Gay and Lesbian Parenting
- ↑ Position Statement on Parenting of Children by Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults
- ↑ NACAC Position Statements
- ↑ Marriage of Same-Sex Couples – 2006 Position Statement Canadian Psychological Association
- ↑ http://www.imr.salford.ac.uk/social%20work/membership/stephen%20hicks.shtml
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 Hicks, Stephen (2005). "Is Gay Parenting Bad for Kids? Responding to the ‘Very Idea of Difference’ in Research on Lesbian and Gay Parents". Sexualities 8 (2): 165. doi:10.1177/1363460705050852.
- ↑ LA Times on Lesbian/Gay Parents: He Said/She Said?
- ↑ (How) Does the Sexual Orientation of Parent's Matter?
- ↑ American Psychological Assotiation Lesbian & Gay Parenting
- ↑ (How) Does the Sexual Orientation of Parent's Matter?
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
- Gay And Lesbian Parenting Blog
- Lesbian and Gay Parents and Their Children: Research on the Family Life Cycle
- Resources for Gay Dads
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