Gay Marriage, Same-Sex Parenting, and America's Children

Abstract

G a y M a r r i a g e , S a m e -S e x P a r e n t i n g , a n d A m e r i c a 's C h i l d r e n V O L . 1 5 / N O. 2 / FA L L 2 0 0 5 99 G a y M a r r i a g e , S a m e -S e x P a r e n t i n g , a n d A m e r i c a 's C h i l d r e n

Lesbian Parent Activism and Meaning-Making in the Current Political Environment

“…This wide range of family constellations, coupled with the homophobia which causes many lesbian parents to hide their true relationship, makes accurate estimates and descriptions of lesbian-headed families difficult to obtain. Similar problems exist in studying the children of lesbian-headed families (Meezan & Rauch, 2005). However, most of the research that has been done on same-sex parents has been conducted on lesbian-headed households (Meezan & Rauch, 2005).…”

“…Similar problems exist in studying the children of lesbian-headed families (Meezan & Rauch, 2005). However, most of the research that has been done on same-sex parents has been conducted on lesbian-headed households (Meezan & Rauch, 2005). The evidence from these studies shows that children raised by lesbian mothers are not statistically different from other children.…”

Expectations of Male and Female Adoptive Parents of Different Marital Status and Sexual Orientation

“…While considerably less research has targeted children of same-sex parents compared to those raised by opposite-sex parents, potentially due to challenges in finding samples of families headed by same-sex parents (Tasker, 2005), evidence indicates extensive similarity in quality of life and personal adjustment of both groups (Adams & Light, 2015;Anderssen, Amlie, & Ytterøy, 2002;Gartrell, Deck, Rodas, Peyser, & Banks, 2005;Meezan & Rauch, 2005;Patterson, 2006;Stacey & Biblarz, 2001;Wainright & Patterson, 2006). While a few supported differences have been reported, including harsher disagreements between lesbian mothers and their children compared to mothers raising a child with a father (see MacCallum & Golombok, 2004), evidence also supports that same-sex parents offer, in noteworthy ways, greater quality of life than families headed by opposite-sex parents.…”

“…Participants may have believed, as many adults do, that all children need both a maternal and paternal influence in their formative years to develop adequately. On the other hand, some may have worried that having two parents of the same sex would indeed be detrimental to child development because of weaker moral guidance, lack of a model of heterosexual partnership, or teasing and discrimination directed at the family (see Meezan & Rauch, 2005).…”

Law and LGBQ-Parent Families

“…In a similar vein, although the law and judges are increasingly recognizing LGBQ-parent families, legal recognition and equality for LGBQ parents is incomplete (Barclay et al 2009;Bernstein and Reimann 2001;Richman 2009). For instance, until June of 2015, same-sex couples who were raising children and were not able to marry lacked the benefits associated with marriage (Bernstein and Taylor 2013; Goldberg and Kuvalanka 2012;Kimport 2014;Meezan and Rauch 2005;Richman 2014;Riggle et al 2005). It is important to note that all of the research reviewed here was conducted prior to the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling.…”