Research: Gay parents may be better on average

Yet more news to make bigots’ heads go ass-plodey: Research indicates that same-sex parents may not only be just as good as their heterosexual counterparts, but possibly even better for their children’s overall well-being and development. To wit:

Gay parents "tend to be more motivated, more committed than heterosexual parents on average, because they chose to be parents," said Abbie Goldberg, a psychologist at Clark University in Massachusetts who researches gay and lesbian parenting. Gays and lesbians rarely become parents by accident, compared with an almost 50 percent accidental pregnancy rate among heterosexuals, Goldberg said. "That translates to greater commitment on average and more involvement."

And while research indicates that kids of gay parents show few differences in achievement, mental health, social functioning and other measures, these kids may have the advantage of open-mindedness, tolerance and role models for equitable relationships, according to some research. Not only that, but gays and lesbians are likely to provide homes for difficult-to-place children in the foster system, studies show. (Of course, this isn't to say that heterosexual parents can't bring these same qualities to the parenting table.)

Strangely enough, it turns out that parents who A) go to greater lengths than most to have and raise children and B) are inherently devoid of genderal bigotry present in many heterosexual couples tend to perform better when it comes to raising happy, well-adjusted offspring.

At any rate, this is just yet another report to shove in the face of the next bunch of hateful idiots who claim that gays can’t head a happy household. Who knows; maybe they’ll wise up by the time they’re drowning in a sea of research that effectively squelches out their prejudice.

(via Joe. My. God.)

Tags: gay parents • gays • parenting • Abbie Goldberg