| Support for Gay and Lesbian Parenting |
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| Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere The only national and international organization to provide support for children with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender parents. |
| Online magazine dedicated to providing gay men and lesbsians who want to become parents. Established in 1998. |
| Websites Supporting Gay and Lesbian Parenting |
| Psychologists who wish to show public support for gay, lesbian, or bisexual family members. |
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| Social relationships of children of gay and lesbian parents |
| In accordance with the perceived social stigma that would be placed on the children of gay and lesbian parents, many have felt that the children of homosexual parents would be unable to form "normal" social relationships with peers. Research refutes this misconception: *Most school-aged children with homosexual parents reported having same-sex best friends and mostly same-sex peer groups, as is seen commonly in the children of heterosexual parents (16). *Quality of the relationships formed with peers was described as positive by researchers, children, and their lesbain parents (18). Studies have also been conducted to examine the differences between children of heterosexual parents vs. children of homosexual parents in relationships with adults. Studies have found some differenes, though no major deviance was recorded: *Children of divorced lesbian mothers were more likely to get in contact with their fathers than were children of divorced heterosexual parents. Another study found no difference (18). |
| Are children of homosexual parents more likely to be abused by thier parents? |
| It has been stated that children of gay or lesbain parents are more likely to be abused. As summarized by Patterson, research in the area of parent-child sexual abuse has concluded (16): *Majority of adults that commit child sexual abuse are male *Female perpetrated sexual abuse is extremely rare *Majority of cases happen between adult male abusing young female Evidence on this subject reveals that homosexual men are no more likely than heterosexual men to perpetrate child sexual abuse |
| Conclusions |
| As seen by research studies as well as testimony by gay and lesbian parents, children raised in homosexual households grow to be normal, healthy, and happy adults. Major differences between those children raised by homosexual parents and those raised by heterosexual parents are not seen. "...the results of existing research comparing gay and lesbian parents to heterosexual parents and children of gay or lesbian parents to children of heterosexual parents are quite uniform: common sterotypes are not supported by the data" (16). |
| Provides suppor for families of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender parents. Family values include pride, respect, commitment, and love. |
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| Resource to support the spouse of a recently "outed" ex-spouse. Gives information intented to promote understanding and support for both spouses and children. |
| Alternative Family Institute Non-profit organization established to help Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) couples and families. |