Our findings challenge received notions about the importance of children having both one female and one male parent. In this sample, regardless of whether they had one mother and one father, two mothers, or two fathers, children were thriving. Our findings are also at odds with the notion that only heterosexual adults make capable parents and that lesbian and gay parents are somehow ineffective or harmful. Inasmuch as there were no significant associations between parental sexual orientation and child adjustment, our results are consistent with notions that two parents of the same gender can be capable parents and that parental sexual orientation is not related to parenting skill or child adjustment. […] From a policy perspective, our results provide no justification for denying lesbian and gay adults from adopting children. Indeed, barring adoptions to prospective lesbian and gay parents seems likely to produce a number of undesirable outcomes.[…] In jurisdictions that bar same-sex couples or lesbian and gay individuals from adopting, fewer children were adopted from foster care. Thus, it appears that more children could potentially benefit from having permanent homes with capable parents if lesbian and gay adults were allowed to adopt in the U.S. and elsewhere.
— Researchers Rachel H. Farr and Charlotte H. Patterson, of the University of Virginia, and Stephen L. Forssell of George Washington University, writing in Applied Developmental Science and arguing their research doesn’t simply conclude gays make great parents, but that any policy prohibiting it is utter nonsense [via; PDF]
EdWoody
Can you find a way to fix the layout – it makes it very difficult to read, to the point where no-one can be bothered any more.
Harris
While this is continuing proof, you can read The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute report on this topic released in 2008: http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/policy/2008_09_expand_resources.php
Luke
my my lady mini, you have quite some hotties for daddies.
…concerning the research results, duh!!!
Shaun Azzopardi
It’s nice to have some studies to back up what I’ve always believed. 😀
Andrew
@Shaun Azzopardi: What you’ve always believed? Amongst the scientific community, there simply isn’t ANY debate about this subject.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_parenting#Children.E2.80.99s_outcomes
Jeffree
This was a well-crafted study with results that echo & augment other studies.
I hope states which prohibit adoption by samesex couples will take heed and that activists.will continue pressing the issue.
I’m an adoptee who hopes to adopt someday.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
What is usually forgotten in this argument is that the Gays usually don’t adopt the freshly popped out bouncing babies. Usually they adopt older kids who have languished in the system for years. Friends of mine adopted a kid who was 9 years old. To say he put them through torture for a year is the understatement of the decade. This kid had been physically and sexually abused for most of his life. He was bounced from one place to another. He acted out in every possible way in school at home. He destroyed his room multiple times. Yet they did not give up. One time my friend basically threw him down on the ground and screamed at Angel no matter what he did they were not giving up on him…….The kid broke down in uncontrolable sobs crying that he figured they were going to send him back like every other time and he was “getting them back” for what they were going to do!……..For the first time in his life the kid saw anger comming from someone because they actually cared about him……….Three years later he is an honors student……..
Yet the haters would still prefer kids like Angel to be rotting in foster homes……….
Troy Boy
@PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS: Your story brought tears to my eyes. What great friends you have.
Hilarious
That picture in the article is ridiculously cute.