Hello,
As it turns out there is a considerable body of research on the
children of same-sex couples.
As mvguy points out in his comment on your question, very few same-sex
couples are legally "married" in this country; in fact, currently only
in San Francisco and in New Paltz, New York--and perhaps soon in
Massachusetts--may such couples receive the civil status of "married"
and its attendant rights. But of course there are thousands of gay and
lesbian couples who are rearing children--children by previous
marriages, children they have adopted, or children born to them by
surrogate means. So there is a lot of experiential data available to
researchers.
I refer you first to the American Academy of Pediatrics, which in
February 2002 issued a policy statement: "Children who are born to or
adopted by 1 member of a same-sex couple deserve the security of 2
legally recognized parents.Therefore, the American Academy of
Pediatrics supports legislative and legal efforts to provide the
possibility of adoption of the child by the second parent or coparent
in these families."
On the following Web page, you will find the Academy's complete
statement, as well as a list of references, including (no. 9) an
article in the Academy's journal stating that "A growing body of
scientific literature demonstrates that children who grow up with 1 or
2 gay and/or lesbian parents fare as well in emotional, cognitive,
social, and sexual functioning as do children whose parents are
heterosexual. Children?s optimal development seems to be influenced
more by the nature of the relationships and interactions within the
family unit than by the particular structural form it takes."
The full text of this article and its summary of relevant resear chcan
be accessed at:
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/109/2/341
I also refer you to the website of the Family Research Council, which
argues that research that concludes in favor of adoption by gays and
lesbians is unsound and that gays and lesbians are unfit to be
parents. This article also cites research showing that children of gay
and lesbian couples may suffer negative effects.
http://www.frc.org/?i=IS01J3
The American Aacdemy of Pediatrics is a professional and scientific
organization, and therefore one can assume, objective in its findings.
The Family Research Council, on the other hand, is an organization
dedicated to upholding and advocating "Christian values."
Who is right? I guess that is for you (and all of us) to decide.
scribe_ga |
