Children Living with Gay/Lesbian Parents

Research studies have shown that same-sex parenting revealed that children living with two moms or two dads develop normally. In some cases it has shown boys to be less sexually adventuresome, and girls are more sexually daring. Children living with two parents of the same sex also seem to endure ridicule, taunting, and harassment from other children because of their parents' sexual orientation.

Children living with heterosexual parents also experience ridicule; taunting and harassment from other children because they may be over weight, look different, be disabled, or even be of a different race. Some children can be cruel no matter what lifestyle a child is living. It is up to the child's parents to raise them right and teach them to have respect for others. If the child is brought up right and is disciplined for disrespecting others and is taught on how to treat others as they would like to be treated, chances are that child will grow up without hate or racism. It is the parent's fault if their child is disrespectful to others or is racist to other children who may have gay/lesbian parents or even be of a different color.

Charlotte Patterson, a research psychologist said, "When you look at children with standard psychological assessments; you can't tell which child is living with gay/lesbian parents from a child living with heterosexual parents." She comments, "Studies to date are relatively few and open to criticism."

The benefits of having two lesbian parents have shown that the non-biological lesbian parent was more involved with the children than the fathers of heterosexual couples. Children of gay/lesbian parents also tend to be less prejudiced. There are no negative affects on developmental outcomes with children who have lesbian parents.

There are three major concerns some may have when it comes to gay/lesbian parenting. The first one is that some think a child being brought up with two moms or two dads have a better chance of having homosexual tendencies. The second thing is that children living with gay/lesbian parents will be more vulnerable to mental breakdown and will have more problems with adjustment difficulties and behavior problems. The third thing is these children will experience difficulty in social relationships, which then will lead to being stigmatized, teased, or even victimized by other children.

The above paragraph is the opinion of some researchers. There is no difference in gay/lesbian parenting compared to heterosexual parenting. Most children weather they have gay/lesbian parents or heterosexual parents experience ridicule, harassment, and taunting from other children. It all boils down to parents need to raise their children right and teach them not to dislike or disrespect others all because of their lifestyle, or who they are as a person.