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from Parenting & Family
Researcher Surveys Studies
On Gay Parenting And Children
August 30, 2005 - Fiona Tasker, Ph.D., has published "Lesbian Mothers, Gay
Fathers, and Their Children: A Review" in the Journal of Developmental &
Behavioral Pediatrics 26(3):224-240, June 2005.
Dr. Tasker urges pediatricians to consider how to deal effectively with various
family forms, which include lesbian, gay, and bisexual parenting arrangements,
which may include egg and sperm surrogacy arrangements between gay males and gay
females.
Tasker says an estimated 4-17% of the population identify as gay, lesbian, or
bisexual. In addition, estimates are that there are between 2 to 14 million
children with lesbian or gay parents in the U.S.
She surveys various studies of gay parenting and how this family arrangement
impacts children. According to her research, studies done in the 1980s concluded
there were no systematic differences in children brought up in lesbian
households when compared to children brought up in heterosexual single parent
homes. Other studies purport to show that there are no differences in the
"warmth of the child's relationship" in a lesbian household with a
non-biological mother or father compared to children in heterosexual families.
Another study allegedly showed that children in a divorced lesbian household
showed no greater psychiatric problems than children in divorced heterosexual
samples. Another study found that "children of lesbian mothers were compared
with the children of single heterosexual mothers and found to be less aggressive
and more affectionate, as rated by mothers and teachers and as seen in their
performance on a projective measure."
Tasker also notes that studies indicate that the majority of children in both
gay and lesbian households "grow up to be heterosexual."
She admits that many of the current studies are skewed: "The majority of lesbian
and gay parents and their children participating in studies have been recruited
through advertising. In many contexts, it is still not safe for lesbians and gay
men to be publicly 'out' about their sexuality, so a representative sample of
lesbian and gay parents and their children probably constitutes an unattainable
goal at present."
She concludes her survey by observing: "While there is no evidence that children
experience difficulties because of being brought up by lesbian or gay parents,
it is also important to remember the variation in their experiences."
Additional Reading: "Woman Reared In Same-Sex Household Speaks Out Against Gay Marriage";
"Review Of Research On Homosexual Parenting, Adoption, And Foster Parenting";
"Gender Complementarity and Child-rearing: Where Tradition and Science Agree";
"Studies Of Homosexual Parenting: A Critical Review."
Updated: 8 February 2008
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