Children of gay fathers grow up as well-adjusted as those of straight couples, study finds

A new study has confirmed the obvious news that children of gay fathers grow up as well-adjusted as those of straight couples.

The study, ‘Experiences of Children with Gay Fathers,’ was conducted as an online survey and collected responses from 732 gay fathers in 47 US states, the Daily Mail reports.

The survey included questions about children’s well-being, including self-esteem, academic achievement and relationship with peers.

Responses from gay dads were no different in comparison with those in a sample from heterosexual families.

It found that 88 per cent of the study respondents said it was “not true” that their child was unhappy or depressed, compared with 87 per cent of the comparative sample.

Similarly, 72 per cent of participants responded that their child does not “worry a lot,” compared with 75 per cent of the general population.

The study also notes that over one third – 36 per cent – of their children had been born in a context of a heterosexual relationship, two fifths – 38 percent by adopting or fostering children, and nearly a fifth – 14 per cent – with the assistance of a surrogate carrier.

elton-john-600x450

However, between 20 and 30 per cent of respondents admitted that they faced disapproval from family, friends and some people in religious context.

33 per cent of fathers reported encountering problems getting shared custody, 41 per cent in applying for adoption and nearly a fifth – 18 per cent – with a surrogate mother.

Moreover, one-third of children raised in same-sex families had been subjected to teasing, bullying and other stigmatizing experiences by friends.

“Because stigma continues to interfere with the efforts of gay men to become parents and with the lives of gay men and their children, our research underscores the need for social and legal protections for families headed by same-sex parents,” says the study’s lead author Professor Ellen Perrin.

“Gay fathers report that their parenting activities and their perceptions of their children’s well-being are similar to those of children with heterosexual parents, despite barriers to becoming fathers and ongoing experiences of stigmatisation.”

It is estimated there are over 690,000 same-sex families living in the United States, and 19 per cent of them are raising children under the age of 18.

Prof Perrin stresses: “Our data add to those of other investigators showing that children of same-sex parents do as well in every way as children whose parents are heterosexual.”

Words: Anita Klich

In This Article: