Do gay people make better parents? Studies tend to think so.

[gsdx]

Score one for our side:

Gay marriage, and especially gay parenting, has been in the cross hairs in recent days.

On Jan. 6, Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum told a New Hampshire audience that children are better off with a father in prison than being raised in a home with lesbian parents and no father at all. And last Monday (Jan. 9), Pope Benedict called gay marriage a threat "to the future of humanity itself," citing the need for children to have heterosexual homes.

But research on families headed by gays and lesbians doesn't back up these dire assertions. In fact, in some ways, gay parents may bring talents to the table that straight parents don't.

Gay parents "tend to be more motivated, more committed than heterosexual parents on average, because they chose to be parents," said Abbie Goldberg, a psychologist at Clark University in Massachusetts who researches gay and lesbian parenting. Gays and lesbians rarely become parents by accident, compared with an almost 50 percent accidental pregnancy rate among heterosexuals, Goldberg said. "That translates to greater commitment on average and more involvement."

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/why-gay-parents-may-best-parents-131902676.html

 

[mygaybuffet]

Why Gay Parents May Be the Best Parents

Adopting the neediest, good parenting, nurturing tolerance, and same-sex acceptance are just a few pivotal yet groundbreaking factors of being a gay parent according to research on families headed by gays and lesbians doesn't back up these dire assertions. In fact, in some ways, gay parents may bring talents to the table that straight parents don't.

Gay parents "tend to be more motivated, more committed than heterosexual parents on average, because they chose to be parents," said Abbie Goldberg, a psychologist at Clark University in Massachusetts who researches gay and lesbian parenting. Gays and lesbians rarely become parents by accident, compared with an almost 50 percent accidental pregnancy rate among heterosexuals, Goldberg said. "That translates to greater commitment on average and more involvement."

And while research indicates that kids of gay parents show few differences in achievement, mental health, social functioning and other measures, these kids may have the advantage of open-mindedness, tolerance and role models for equitable relationships, according to some research. Not only that, but gays and lesbians are likely to provide homes for difficult-to-place children in the foster system, studies show.

Read here for more!

 

[jdbadboy]

Re: Why Gay Parents May Be the Best Parents

I don't think it is fair just giving us two choices for your poll. You should have added a third choice of "the same".

 

[MVincent]

Re: Why Gay Parents May Be the Best Parents

I don't think it is fair just giving us two choices for your poll. You should have added a third choice of "the same".

For "the same", you would answer "no".

(As in "not better".)

 

[Zaphod]

Re: Why Gay Parents May Be the Best Parents

I answered "no" with just that in mind.

 

[JayHawk]

Re: Why Gay Parents May Be the Best Parents

But of course the best straight parents are going to be much better than the worst gay parents.

Why are the best straight parents going to be better than the worst gay ones? or were you saying something else?

I voted yes for the very reason of choice.

If you choose that commitment typically you will do better. Since probably 90% of gay parents have to choose to do it the odds are they will have a higher percentage of successful situations.

 

[RaKroma]

Re: Why Gay Parents May Be the Best Parents

I'd trust lesbian couples to raise kids over many gay men I've come across so far. And sexual orientation alone does not make "best parents" if that is the main message.

 

[gsdx]

Guess I should have made a poll.

Oh, bother.

 

[Yomaga]

Re: Why Gay Parents May Be the Best Parents

They may be better but there is a higher chance the kid would be made fun of for having gay parents

 

[Latimer]

Re: Why Gay Parents May Be the Best Parents

Idle speculation by an academic who has an agenda.

 

[justsimon]

Re: Why Gay Parents May Be the Best Parents

I don't think gay parents are any better or worse than straight parents. The two worst sets of parents I know are a lesbian couple and my friend's parents who adopted her as an infant. They may have chosen to have children, but they apparently lost interest once they were no longer infants.

 

[Paws]

I'm not sure if two lesbians can raise a son well, unless he has regular contact with an adult male in the family :/

 

[healingduck]

Re: Why Gay Parents May Be the Best Parents

I voted no because being gay does not increase your parenting ability.

 

[SuperNatural]

Re: Why Gay Parents May Be the Best Parents

Yes & No

Yes- Because the parents are preparing for it and isn't a surprise when they finally get the child

No-Because Having a child does not increase parenting ability {Quote by healingduck}

This as well ::They may be better but there is a higher chance the kid would be made fun of for having gay parents {Quote by Yomaga}

 

[sixthson]

Of all the things it takes to be a good parent, sexuality is probably not on the list.

 

[kallipolis]

The sexual orientation of a parent does not determine whether that parent will be a good parent to their children.

What of heterosexuals who adopt children? Should we also deduce that they make better parents because they make a deliberate choice to adopt?

An accidental pregnancy is not the cause of bad parenting of children.