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Arguments Against Gay Parenting

Those against homosexuals raising children cite many "facts" which they believe supports the idea that the life of a child is not to be entrusted to a person of a so called "deviant" sexual orientation. Arguments against homosexuals raising children include:

1. Children raised by homosexuals are more likely to be sexually abused.
2. Children are more likely to become homosexual.
3. Children will grow up thinking that their childhood was unsatisfactory.
4. A lack of the opposite gender role model is present to children raised in a homosexual household.
5. Children will be more promiscuous growing up and practice more same-sex experimentation.

According to an essay on gay parenting, Robert H. Knight and Daniel S. Garcia say, "We don't need studies to tell us that it is unwise to let children play unprotected near highways. Likewise, we don't need research to tell us that it is unwise to have children raised by people with known sexual and gender identity disorders" (13). However, plenty of research has been conducted to investigate what influences gay and lesbian parenting has on children.

      Will children become homosexual when raised by homosexuals?
               *According to data analyzed by Dr. Cameron, 8.9% of children raised in homosexual households
                 become homosexual, while only 2.4% of children raised by heterosexuals become homosexual (05).
               *In another study analyzed by Cameron, 13.9% of children raised by homosexuals became
                 homosexual themselves (13).
               *Dr. Jerry Binger, a homosexual parent and investigator with Frederick Bozett, has found that "'12%
                 [of children raised in homosexual households] tend to develop a homosexual orientation'" (03).
                *1989 survey of women who were once married, but then practiced homosexuality, revealed that
                 12% reported homosexual behavior in their children (10).

       Studies which examined the children of homosexuals:
               *1989 study of women who were once married, but then practiced homosexuality, revealed that 1 in
                 3 mothers experienced problems in her children. Problems were usually in realtionships with
                 members of the opposite sex (13).
               *In a study listed in Homosexuality and the Family, by Frederick W. Bozett, 5 out of 9 daughters
                of divorced lesbians felt negatively about their mother's lesbianism (04).
               *Cameron found that "'58.8% of the children of lesbians and 21.1% of the children of homosexual
                 fathers had relationship problems with other people because of their knowledge of their parents'
                 homosexuality'" (05). He also found that children are at an increased risk for:
                                       1. Sexual involvement with a parent
                                            *29% of children raised by at least 1 homosexual parent reported having had sex
                                            with that parent. 0.6% of the children of heterosexual parents reported having
                                            sex with one of their parents
                                       2. Risk of becoming homosexual
                                            *47% of those raised by at least 1 homosexual parent reported at least some
                                            homosexual activity
                                       3. Risk of social or psychological problems
                                           *A "large" number of those who had been reared by homosexual parents reported
                                           problems with family environment. These problems included feelings of betrayal
                                           by their parents and divorce or single parenthood in adulthood.
              *Psychologist Brad Hayton says that children from homosexual households, "'...fear being
               labeled a homosexual themselves, fear ostracism from peers, experience much confusion
               and withdrawl from family and peers. Boys feel left out, girls increasingly worry about their own
               sexual identity, and many children simply reject their parent's lifestyle. The rotating partners of
               homosexuals cause many children to compete for the affection of their mothers and feel left out of
               their own families'" (11).

(continued)

Reactions: When parents come out to their children

As seen in the book Lesbian Motherhood: An Exploration of Canadian Lesbian Families by Fiona Nelson, the reactions experienced by children varied, but tended towards an angry response::
               Janine: "Initially, Jancy didn't seem bothered by it, but I think it was more that she was in stunned
               silence. Scott was very upset...You know, all the concerns went through their minds...Does that
               mean I will be too? What will my friends think? How do I tell people? Do I tell people? Why are
               you doing this to me? Why can't you just be like other moms?" (15)

                Michelle: "They were angry, really, really, upset...They were angry that I was different than all
               their friend's parents I think is the bottom line..." (15)
Nelson found that often the children were fine with the idea of lesbianism in their mothers, but were worried about the differences now present in their families when contrasted with other heterosexual families. The concerns of these "differences" were not easily resolved. Mothers shared the concerns of their children, that they would suffer from ridicule from other kids at school.