As much as I do not want to post these articles here.. Having
anti-msg without justification or studies will get us no
where..
if u want to talk about family.. the following is a piece of
research study..
http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/113/110762.htm
Study: Same-Sex Parents Raise Well-Adjusted Kids
By: Linda Little, WebMD Medical News
Tufts University study finds children of same-sex parents do not
differ in self-esteem or gender identity from kids with
heterosexual parents.
Wednesday 10.12.05
Researchers Say Children Who Grow Up in Households With Gay Parents
Have Normal Self-Esteem
Oct.12, 2005 (Washington)-Children growing up in same-sex parental
households do not necessarily have differences in self-esteem,
gender identity, or emotional problems from children growing up in
heterosexual parent homes.
"There are a lot of children with at least one gay or lesbian
parent," says Ellen C. Perrin, MD, professor of pediatrics at Tufts
University School of Medicine in Boston. She revealed the findings
at the American Academy of Pediatrics Conference and
Exhibition.
Between 1 million and 6 million children in the U.S. are being
reared by committed lesbian or gay couples, she says. Children
being raised by same-sex parents were either born to a heterosexual
couple, adopted, or conceived through artificial
insemination.
"The vast consensus of all the studies shows that children of
same-sex parents do as well as children whose parents are
heterosexual in every way," she tells WebMD. "In some ways children
of same-sex parents actually may have advantages over other family
structures."
Study Results
Researchers looked at information gleaned from 15 studies on more
than 500 children, evaluating possible stigma, teasing and social
isolation, adjustment and self-esteem, opposite gender role models,
sexual orientation, and strengths.
Studies from 1981 to 1994, including 260 children reared by either
heterosexual mothers or same-sex mothers after divorce, found no
differences in intelligence, type or prevalence of psychiatric
disorders, self-esteem, well-being, peer relationships, couple
relationships, or parental stress.
"Some studies showed that single heterosexual parents' children
have more difficulties than children who have parents of the same
sex," Perrin says. "They did better in discipline, self-esteem, and
had less psychosocial difficulties at home and at school."
Another study of 37 children of 27 divorced lesbian mothers and a
similar number of children of heterosexual mothers found no
differences in behavior, adjustment, gender identity, and peer
relationships.
Equitable Division of Chores
Equitable Division of Chores
Two other large studies involving more than 100 couples found that
same-sex parents also had contact with extended family, had social
support, and had a more equitable division of labor in the
home.
"Lesbian couples share household responsibilities and chores more
equitably," Perrin says. "And, the children of lesbian couples are
less aggressive, more nurturing to peers, more tolerant of
diversity, and more inclined to play with both boy's and girl's
toys.
Children seem to adjust better when there is a more equal division
of labor in the home and the parental relationship with the
children had a higher rating, she says.
The combined data presented by Perrin showed that children whose
parents are lesbian have no more problems than the rest of the
children and actually may be more tolerant of differences, she
says. There was suggestive evidence that there were more stresses
due to the gender of same-sex parents, but the children also
reported greater well-being, more nurturing, and a greater
tolerance for differences.
What is striking is that there are very consistent findings in
these studies," Perrin says.
Ryan Malone, who works in public relations in Washington, D.C.,
says after his parents were divorced he was reared by two "lesbian
moms," while still staying in contact with his father.
"We lived in a small town," he says. "While I was open about my
family, I didn't broadcast it."
At times he felt isolated because he didn't know any other families
at the time headed by a same-sex couple, Malone says. "My parents
overparented because they felt like the whole world was
watching."
Emotional Topic
While further study should be done, this is important for
pediatricians to know so they can learn more about variations in
families and give appropriate advice in optimizing the child's
development, Perrin says.
Carol Berkowitz, MD, former president of AAP, says this analysis is
important in that it combines evidence-based studies.
"This subject evokes a lot of emotions," she says. "Some of the
studies on this subject in the past have been weighted and biased,
based on nothing more than the researcher's views."
Evidence-based studies are important in helping pediatricians in
their practices and creating policy for the future, she
says.
