Effects on Children With Gay/Lesbian Parents

Healthy children are the product of healthy parents, right? Although most say, “yes,” we all know that there is a silent, yet known disclaimer regarding the parents that are raising these children. The disclaimer states that whatever is witness through out life that homosexual parents are not suitable people to be raising children. While keeping that in mind, what makes a healthy parent or better yet what makes a healthy child? I believe that in many eyes the definition of healthy differ from one family to the next. Identifying what is healthy within a family is much harder than pointing out what we as individuals view as negative or lack of a better word unhealthy.

Through out my research, children with homosexual parents do no worse and in some cases better with life developments in comparison with children with heterosexual parents. These data is so outstanding in nature that the researchers have begun studying the parents themselves, BEFORE they where actually parents, to distinguish if they are actually going to be “good” parents. A psychologist by the name of Paul Cameron who strongly opposes gay parenting states within the article, “Gay Parents Good for Children?” that homosexual parent do not do well because they have more partner changes, more drug abuse, and more history of missing work. All of these issues work together to make a homosexual parent less suitable. Ok, folks side let’s take a minute to discuss these points. A homosexual person having more partner changes than a heterosexual person? This is simply ludicrous, because I can do a survey on the Valdosta State campus and prove that the partner changes are somewhat equal between homosexual and heterosexuals. Regarding the issue of homosexuals having more drug abuse than heterosexuals, I am almost positive drugs do not discriminate and pick and chose their users. The more history of missing work is almost laughable. If anyone reading this has children think back to when you didn’t have children work was far less important then, am I right? It does not matter if you are gay or straight when you have no “real” responsibilities going to the beach with friends is way more fun than working at a job that you absolutely hate and do not necessarily need. His opinions are taken seriously though and was even published in a journal, but I can I point out that the Psychological Reports is a journal, in which authors have to be pay to be published in. Do I have to mention the Psychological Reports is the journal that Cameron was published in? I’m sure you picked that up.

The psychologist above viewed negative or unhealthy behavior as frequent partner changes, drug addiction, and job-hopping as characteristics of homosexual activity, and this results in lack of parental competence. I view this as negative and unhealthy behavior for most people that are young and inexperienced. Also, I believe many people will agree that being young and inexperienced does not exclude you from doing anything including being a parent. Live life, make mistakes, and gain respect, then if you so fancy have children. It’s the best and healthiest feeling the in world.

Effects on Children With Gay/Lesbian Parents

Effects on Children With Gay/Lesbian Parents:

What makes a family? Some may say, “a father, a mother, and any children that may result in their love and happiness,” but the meaning of the world family has changed dramatically over the years. Lately, this term family has escalated to a level that most are uncomfortable with. We see two women walking down the street holding hands, while watching their son run ahead of them, or two men playing in the park with a little girl they adopted. Are these groups of people any thing less than a family? Some may argue that these people are not families, well, not in the traditional sense. I have been with my partner for three and half years, and we have a 15-month-old son. We are more than a group of people. We are a family, and I will not be considered as anything less than that. My son is quite a character just as any child his age. He cries, laughs, and loves to hug. None of which, are negative effects of being raised by two mothers. But with all of our opinions pushed aside regarding if families are really families, let’s discuss they the effects upon children that live within same-sex parent homes.

National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) has some pretty interesting findings when a study was conducted around homes without a father. This study included homes with single heterosexual mothers, and homes with two lesbian mothers. One finding included that sons of lesbian mothers are more likely to be more nurturing and affectionate to their future families. Another observation during the study showed daughter whether with heterosexual mother or lesbian mother were more likely to have future occupations in areas that were traditionally non-female. A third finding told researchers that children raised by lesbians were more likely to consider a homosexual relationship. The information above is certainly not all the data collected, and not all nontraditional families should be limited to be these results.

There is another interesting article I found while looking into this issue. The article, “Children of Lesbians May Do Better Than Their Peers,” reassured me as a lesbian mother. Children of lesbian mothers seems to have no significant differences in social development and adjustments compared to children raised in heterosexual homes. However, even with the almost unnoticeable differences with children’s social development and adjustments the children have higher levels of self-esteem and confidence, and did better academically. This is an amazing find. We, as a society, have been told that homosexuality is bad, and will only affect the children of America in negative ways. This article proves that we, as homosexuals, are breaking barriers, and proving ourselves as parents and as families.

While doing research on this subject I cannot find much information regarding the effects on children that may have two fathers. What do you think that is? My opinion is that it is much harder to become a parent if you are two gay males trying to start a family. Adoption can be difficult and expensive, and finding someone to carry the child can be time consuming, again expensive, and emotional draining. What are your thoughts?

Gay People are NOT Monsters!

Many adoption agencies do not allow gay couples to adopt children and almost half the countries in the world feel that this policy is a good one. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_adoption confirms that adoption by same-sex couples is prohibited by a majority of countries.
Why can’t two people who want to love a child be able to parent them? Oh yeah, because being gay is morally wrong they will be teaching the children to do wrong as well. False! Heterosexual parents can teach a child wrong doings as well. Currently Florida specifically bans gays and lesbians from adopting. Claiming that gays and lesbians were child-molesters, Bryant was able to convince state senators to vote for a ban on gay adoptions (http://lesbianlife.about.com/cs/families/a/adoption_2.htm). Just because someone is gay, does not make them an evil monster. In fact, scientific studies have shown that children who grow up in one or two-parent gay or lesbian households fare just as well emotionally and socially as children whose parents are heterosexual. Studies have shown that children are more influenced by their interactions with their parents, than by their sexual orientation (http://lesbianlife.about.com/cs/families/a/adoption_2.htm).
Children that are waiting to be adopted do not care that the awaiting couple is gay. What they (the children) are looking for is simple, it is love. They are looking to be cared for and protected. There is no legal reason why gays and lesbians should be denied the right to adopt children. The law only hurts children waiting to be adopted and deprives loving parents who would care for these children (http://lesbianlife.about.com/cs/families/a/adoption_2.htm).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_parenting#Same-sex_marriage explains that In January 2008, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that same-sex couples have the right to adopt a child. In all U.S. states except for Florida, unmarried LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) adults can petition to adopt a child. Granting the petition is left to the discretion of a judge.
So what do you think? Is it wrong for a gay couple to want to help a child, to want to teach the child what love is and give them a home, something in which they probably do not even remember what feels like? Or do you agree with me and few others on the fact that, gays are normal people and are not aliens, and should be treated accordingly?

Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT)

It is apparent that the issue of Don't Ask, Don't Tell has become quite the controversy between The President and his fellow Congress members. The policy "don't ask, don't tell" has caused the President himself to choose between defending what he believes while going against the decison of Congress. A federal judge in California recently declared the policy unconstitutional. This ruling has put President Obama in a bind because he stated that he'll continue to support his decision and defend his decision in court. Most seem to believe that being gay or a lesbian can affect unit cohesion (organization) and military readiness. Even though this is causing conflict amongst military and civilian workers, the Obama Justice Department is considering an appeal. Although this may be a concern for most superior officers already serving, this conflict affects the number of people actually capable of serving in the military. The repeal of the policy has occurred in all branches of the military, including a sense of cooperation by Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway. Generally, most are concerned with people who decide to express their relationship in uniform. Because of this, this tagged a current serving officer who is a veteran in the United States military, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Snags Veteran Officer". Obviously protecting the country is not the primary concern of the United States. It is noticeable that more are concerned with the fact that their are gay people that have existed, still exist and will exist in the United States military. Not only does this take away from the protection of the country, but also it deprives cadets who are attempting to become future participants in the military, Cadet Resigns Over "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". Also, the benefits do not apply to same sex couples or marriages. In addition to this war within wars, President Obama has taken the responsibility of arguing the fact that Congress has the right to repeal the policy itself. Eventually, Congress and the people of the United States military will have to reach an ultimate decision. A battle can only be fought for so long.