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	<title>Comments on: No duh: It hurts kids to purposely deprive them of a mom or a dad</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.stoptheaclu.com/2007/06/25/no-duh-it-hurts-kids-to-purposely-deprive-them-of-a-mom-or-a-dad/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.stoptheaclu.com/2007/06/25/no-duh-it-hurts-kids-to-purposely-deprive-them-of-a-mom-or-a-dad/</link>
	<description>Beating Them With Their Own Sickle And Hammer</description>
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		<title>By: Michael S. Clark</title>
		<link>http://www.stoptheaclu.com/2007/06/25/no-duh-it-hurts-kids-to-purposely-deprive-them-of-a-mom-or-a-dad/comment-page-1/#comment-63458</link>
		<dc:creator>Michael S. Clark</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:40:24 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description>If you really believe that every major psychological, pediatric, and adoption agency is not credible, I would have to say the problem more than likely lies with you and not them.  The only arguments against gay adoption come from people basing their opinion on a two thousand year old book written by bronze age barbarians who thought that the earth was flat and was the center of the universe.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you really believe that every major psychological, pediatric, and adoption agency is not credible, I would have to say the problem more than likely lies with you and not them.  The only arguments against gay adoption come from people basing their opinion on a two thousand year old book written by bronze age barbarians who thought that the earth was flat and was the center of the universe.</p>
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		<title>By: Jeff Molby</title>
		<link>http://www.stoptheaclu.com/2007/06/25/no-duh-it-hurts-kids-to-purposely-deprive-them-of-a-mom-or-a-dad/comment-page-1/#comment-63457</link>
		<dc:creator>Jeff Molby</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 02 Jul 2007 03:17:21 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description>I&#039;m curious, Lobo. What criteria do you use to determine if a source is credible?  Keep in mind that a source can be credible without being authoritative.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I&#8217;m curious, Lobo. What criteria do you use to determine if a source is credible?  Keep in mind that a source can be credible without being authoritative.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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	<item>
		<title>By: loboinok</title>
		<link>http://www.stoptheaclu.com/2007/06/25/no-duh-it-hurts-kids-to-purposely-deprive-them-of-a-mom-or-a-dad/comment-page-1/#comment-63456</link>
		<dc:creator>loboinok</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Jul 2007 22:30:31 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description>Michael,

I&#039;ve been offline for 2 months due to a fried computer.

I have a new one but have encountered various bugs and glitches that I am working on.

I&#039;ll respond to your posts as soon as I&#039;m up to snuff.

I can tell you now though, I don&#039;t consider your sources credible either.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Michael,</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve been offline for 2 months due to a fried computer.</p>
<p>I have a new one but have encountered various bugs and glitches that I am working on.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ll respond to your posts as soon as I&#8217;m up to snuff.</p>
<p>I can tell you now though, I don&#8217;t consider your sources credible either.</p>
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		<title>By: Michael S. Clark</title>
		<link>http://www.stoptheaclu.com/2007/06/25/no-duh-it-hurts-kids-to-purposely-deprive-them-of-a-mom-or-a-dad/comment-page-1/#comment-63455</link>
		<dc:creator>Michael S. Clark</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Jul 2007 19:16:01 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description>Looks like I was flagged as a spammer, none of my posts have shown up, and my requests for their approval have not been responded to.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Looks like I was flagged as a spammer, none of my posts have shown up, and my requests for their approval have not been responded to.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>By: Michael S. Clark</title>
		<link>http://www.stoptheaclu.com/2007/06/25/no-duh-it-hurts-kids-to-purposely-deprive-them-of-a-mom-or-a-dad/comment-page-1/#comment-63454</link>
		<dc:creator>Michael S. Clark</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Jul 2007 05:10:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://stoptheaclu.dreamhosters.com/archives/2007/06/25/no-duh-it-hurts-kids-to-purposely-deprive-them-of-a-mom-or-a-dad/#comment-63454</guid>
		<description>Hmm, had two decent sized posts get caught in the spam filter.... that will teach me to back up before I hit submit.  Hopefully an admin will approve them.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hmm, had two decent sized posts get caught in the spam filter&#8230;. that will teach me to back up before I hit submit.  Hopefully an admin will approve them.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>By: E. I. Sanchez</title>
		<link>http://www.stoptheaclu.com/2007/06/25/no-duh-it-hurts-kids-to-purposely-deprive-them-of-a-mom-or-a-dad/comment-page-1/#comment-63453</link>
		<dc:creator>E. I. Sanchez</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 Jun 2007 19:02:20 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description>Thanks for the post.  Keep them coming!</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Thanks for the post.  Keep them coming!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>By: Michael S. Clark</title>
		<link>http://www.stoptheaclu.com/2007/06/25/no-duh-it-hurts-kids-to-purposely-deprive-them-of-a-mom-or-a-dad/comment-page-1/#comment-63452</link>
		<dc:creator>Michael S. Clark</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 Jun 2007 16:30:45 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description>I tried posting 2 very large posts, but Glib or someone will have to approve them it seems, flagged as spam.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I tried posting 2 very large posts, but Glib or someone will have to approve them it seems, flagged as spam.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>By: Michael S. Clark</title>
		<link>http://www.stoptheaclu.com/2007/06/25/no-duh-it-hurts-kids-to-purposely-deprive-them-of-a-mom-or-a-dad/comment-page-1/#comment-63451</link>
		<dc:creator>Michael S. Clark</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 Jun 2007 01:53:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://stoptheaclu.dreamhosters.com/archives/2007/06/25/no-duh-it-hurts-kids-to-purposely-deprive-them-of-a-mom-or-a-dad/#comment-63451</guid>
		<description>What are the characteristics of male perpetrators of child maltreatment?

    * Of all reported cases in the18-State data set, slightly less than one-half of all perpetrators were male. Of these, about one-half (51%) were biological fathers, an additional one-fifth occupied some other parental role (adoptive fathers, stepfathers, mothers&#039; boyfriends), and about one-quarter were in nonparental relationships (including relatives, foster parents, day care providers, or friends) to their victims. In comparison, among female perpetrators, 86 percent were biological mothers.
    * Male and female perpetrators were similar in terms of race. Males were slightly older than females, with an age difference of about 5 years, and men were substantially less likely to be in a caregiver status to the child than were women (60% compared with 87%).

Does not tell the sexuality of the parents, but does show that 51% were biological fathers and 86% were biological mothers.

http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/05/child%2Dmaltreat/execsum.htm

-

There are no data to suggest that children who have gay or lesbian parents are different in any aspects of psychological, social, and sexual development from children in heterosexual families. There has been fear that children raised in gay or lesbian households will grow up to be homosexual, develop improper sex-role behavior or sexual conflicts, and may be sexually abused. There has been concern that children raised by gay or lesbian parents will be stigmatized and have conflicts with their peer group, thus threatening their psychological health, self-esteem, and social relationships. These fears and concerns have not been substantiated by research. Pediatricians can facilitate the health care and development of these children by being aware of these and their own attitudes, by educating themselves about special concerns of gay or lesbian parents, and by being a resource and an advocate for children who have homosexual parents.

http://pedsinreview.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/9/354http://pedsinreview.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/9/354

-

In examining parenting styles and attitudes,
researchers have found more similarities than differences
between gay and heterosexual fathers and lesbian
and heterosexual mothers. However, gay fathers
are more likely to adhere to stricter disciplinary guidelines
and to be more involved in their children&#039;s activities
(Bigner JJ, Jacobsen RB. J Homosex. 1992;23:99-
112). In addition, lesbian mothers are likely to be more
concerned about providing a male role model for their
children than are divorced heterosexual mothers
(Harris MB, Turner PH. JHomosex. 1985;12:101-113)
(Kirkpatrick M, Smith C, Roy R. AmJ Orthopsychiatry.
1981;51:545-551).
According to the technical report, &quot;none of the 300
children studied to date have shown evidence of gender
identity confusion, wished to be the other sex, or
consistently engaged in cross-gender behavior.&quot; In
fact, the proportion of young adults with homosexual
or heterosexual parents who report being attracted to
someone of the same sex is similar, as is the proportion
of young adults from both groups who report
being homosexual.
Finally, children of homosexual parents are more
likely to be more tolerant of diversity, more nurturing
and have higher self-esteem than children of heterosexual
parents.

http://aapnews.aappublications.org/cgi/issue_pdf/edboard_pdf/20/2.pdf

-

There is no evidence to suggest or support that parents with a gay, lesbian, or bisexual orientation are per se different from or deficient in parenting skills, child-centered concerns and parent-child attachments, when compared to parents with a heterosexual orientation. It has long been established that a homosexual orientation is not related to psychopathology, and there is no basis on which to assume that a parental homosexual orientation will increase likelihood of or induce a homosexual orientation in the child.

http://aacap.org/page.ww?section=Policy+Statements&#38;name=Gay%2C+Lesbian+and+Bisexual+Parents+Policy+Statement

-

Good article here by the Child Welfare League of America, but done in 1988.  So kind of outdated.

http://www.cwla.org/articles/cv0201gayadopt.htm

-

We believe that every child has the right to a loving, nurturing and permanent family, and that people from a variety of life experiences offer strengths for these children.

Therefore, it is the policy of the National Adoption Center that no person should be denied consideration in the adoption process solely based on marital status, sexual orientation, lifestyle, disability, physical appearance, race, gender, age, religion and/or size of family.

http://www.adopt.org/whoweare/policy.html#Adoptive%20Parent%20Assessment

-

Philosophy

Children should not be denied a permanent family because of the sexual orientation of potential parents.

Practice and Policy Recommendations

All prospective foster and adoptive parents, regardless of sexual orientation, should be given fair and equal consideration.

NACAC opposes rules and legislation that restrict the consideration of current or prospective foster and adoptive parents based on their sexual orientation.

http://www.nacac.org/pub_statements.html#Gay</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>What are the characteristics of male perpetrators of child maltreatment?</p>
<p>    * Of all reported cases in the18-State data set, slightly less than one-half of all perpetrators were male. Of these, about one-half (51%) were biological fathers, an additional one-fifth occupied some other parental role (adoptive fathers, stepfathers, mothers&#8217; boyfriends), and about one-quarter were in nonparental relationships (including relatives, foster parents, day care providers, or friends) to their victims. In comparison, among female perpetrators, 86 percent were biological mothers.<br />
    * Male and female perpetrators were similar in terms of race. Males were slightly older than females, with an age difference of about 5 years, and men were substantially less likely to be in a caregiver status to the child than were women (60% compared with 87%).</p>
<p>Does not tell the sexuality of the parents, but does show that 51% were biological fathers and 86% were biological mothers.</p>
<p><a href="http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/05/child%2Dmaltreat/execsum.htm" rel="nofollow">http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/05/child%2Dmaltreat/execsum.htm</a></p>
<p>-</p>
<p>There are no data to suggest that children who have gay or lesbian parents are different in any aspects of psychological, social, and sexual development from children in heterosexual families. There has been fear that children raised in gay or lesbian households will grow up to be homosexual, develop improper sex-role behavior or sexual conflicts, and may be sexually abused. There has been concern that children raised by gay or lesbian parents will be stigmatized and have conflicts with their peer group, thus threatening their psychological health, self-esteem, and social relationships. These fears and concerns have not been substantiated by research. Pediatricians can facilitate the health care and development of these children by being aware of these and their own attitudes, by educating themselves about special concerns of gay or lesbian parents, and by being a resource and an advocate for children who have homosexual parents.</p>
<p><a href="http://pedsinreview.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/9/354http://pedsinreview.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/9/354" rel="nofollow">http://pedsinreview.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/9/354http://pedsinreview.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/9/354</a></p>
<p>-</p>
<p>In examining parenting styles and attitudes,<br />
researchers have found more similarities than differences<br />
between gay and heterosexual fathers and lesbian<br />
and heterosexual mothers. However, gay fathers<br />
are more likely to adhere to stricter disciplinary guidelines<br />
and to be more involved in their children&#8217;s activities<br />
(Bigner JJ, Jacobsen RB. J Homosex. 1992;23:99-<br />
112). In addition, lesbian mothers are likely to be more<br />
concerned about providing a male role model for their<br />
children than are divorced heterosexual mothers<br />
(Harris MB, Turner PH. JHomosex. 1985;12:101-113)<br />
(Kirkpatrick M, Smith C, Roy R. AmJ Orthopsychiatry.<br />
1981;51:545-551).<br />
According to the technical report, &#8220;none of the 300<br />
children studied to date have shown evidence of gender<br />
identity confusion, wished to be the other sex, or<br />
consistently engaged in cross-gender behavior.&#8221; In<br />
fact, the proportion of young adults with homosexual<br />
or heterosexual parents who report being attracted to<br />
someone of the same sex is similar, as is the proportion<br />
of young adults from both groups who report<br />
being homosexual.<br />
Finally, children of homosexual parents are more<br />
likely to be more tolerant of diversity, more nurturing<br />
and have higher self-esteem than children of heterosexual<br />
parents.</p>
<p><a href="http://aapnews.aappublications.org/cgi/issue_pdf/edboard_pdf/20/2.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://aapnews.aappublications.org/cgi/issue_pdf/edboard_pdf/20/2.pdf</a></p>
<p>-</p>
<p>There is no evidence to suggest or support that parents with a gay, lesbian, or bisexual orientation are per se different from or deficient in parenting skills, child-centered concerns and parent-child attachments, when compared to parents with a heterosexual orientation. It has long been established that a homosexual orientation is not related to psychopathology, and there is no basis on which to assume that a parental homosexual orientation will increase likelihood of or induce a homosexual orientation in the child.</p>
<p><a href="http://aacap.org/page.ww?section=Policy+Statements&#38;#38;name=Gay%2C+Lesbian+and+Bisexual+Parents+Policy+Statement" rel="nofollow">http://aacap.org/page.ww?section=Policy+Statements&#38;#38;name=Gay%2C+Lesbian+and+Bisexual+Parents+Policy+Statement</a></p>
<p>-</p>
<p>Good article here by the Child Welfare League of America, but done in 1988.  So kind of outdated.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cwla.org/articles/cv0201gayadopt.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.cwla.org/articles/cv0201gayadopt.htm</a></p>
<p>-</p>
<p>We believe that every child has the right to a loving, nurturing and permanent family, and that people from a variety of life experiences offer strengths for these children.</p>
<p>Therefore, it is the policy of the National Adoption Center that no person should be denied consideration in the adoption process solely based on marital status, sexual orientation, lifestyle, disability, physical appearance, race, gender, age, religion and/or size of family.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.adopt.org/whoweare/policy.html#Adoptive%20Parent%20Assessment" rel="nofollow">http://www.adopt.org/whoweare/policy.html#Adoptive%20Parent%20Assessment</a></p>
<p>-</p>
<p>Philosophy</p>
<p>Children should not be denied a permanent family because of the sexual orientation of potential parents.</p>
<p>Practice and Policy Recommendations</p>
<p>All prospective foster and adoptive parents, regardless of sexual orientation, should be given fair and equal consideration.</p>
<p>NACAC opposes rules and legislation that restrict the consideration of current or prospective foster and adoptive parents based on their sexual orientation.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nacac.org/pub_statements.html#Gay" rel="nofollow">http://www.nacac.org/pub_statements.html#Gay</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>By: Michael S. Clark</title>
		<link>http://www.stoptheaclu.com/2007/06/25/no-duh-it-hurts-kids-to-purposely-deprive-them-of-a-mom-or-a-dad/comment-page-1/#comment-63450</link>
		<dc:creator>Michael S. Clark</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 Jun 2007 00:32:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://stoptheaclu.dreamhosters.com/archives/2007/06/25/no-duh-it-hurts-kids-to-purposely-deprive-them-of-a-mom-or-a-dad/#comment-63450</guid>
		<description>Damn you spam filter, thou art evil.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Damn you spam filter, thou art evil.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>By: Michael S. Clark</title>
		<link>http://www.stoptheaclu.com/2007/06/25/no-duh-it-hurts-kids-to-purposely-deprive-them-of-a-mom-or-a-dad/comment-page-1/#comment-63449</link>
		<dc:creator>Michael S. Clark</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 Jun 2007 00:31:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://stoptheaclu.dreamhosters.com/archives/2007/06/25/no-duh-it-hurts-kids-to-purposely-deprive-them-of-a-mom-or-a-dad/#comment-63449</guid>
		<description>&quot;If you consider â€œask them.â€ credible but discount professionals with a wide range of degrees, as not credible, feel free to provide â€œreal, credible, unbiased proofâ€ of your position.&quot;

The only way your team of professionals would be able to tell who is gay and who is not would be to do exactly what I suggested.  To &quot;ask them&quot;.  I guess you think you have to have a degree to ask a question and make it credible.

-

Can Lesbians, Gay Men, and Bisexuals Be Good Parents?

Yes. Studies comparing groups of children raised by homosexual and by heterosexual parents find no developmental differences between the two groups of children in four critical areas: their intelligence, psychological adjustment, social adjustment, and popularity with friends. It is also important to realize that a parent&#039;s sexual orientation does not dictate his or her children&#039;s.

Another myth about homosexuality is the mistaken belief that gay men have more of a tendency than heterosexual men to sexually molest children. There is no evidence to suggest that homosexuals are more likely than heterosexuals to molest children.

http://www.apa.org/topics/orientation.html

-

&quot;In summary, there is no evidence to suggest that lesbian women or gay men are unfit to be parents or that psychosocial development among children of lesbian women or gay men is compromised relative to that among offspring of heterosexual parents. Not a single study has found children of lesbian or gay parents to be disadvantaged in any significant respect relative to children of heterosexual parents. Indeed, the evidence to date suggests that home environments provided by lesbian and gay parents are as likely as those provided by heterosexual parents to support and enable children&#039;s psychosocial growth.&quot;

http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/lgpconclusion.html   (Conclusion)
http://www.apa.org/pi/parent.html   (Entire study of research done in area)

-

&quot;Children will be molested by homosexual parents.&quot;

There is no legitimate scientific research connecting homosexuality and pedophilia. Sexual orientation (homosexual or heterosexual) is defined as an adult attraction to other adults. Pedophilia is defined as an adult sexual attraction or perversion to children.7 In a study of 269 cases of child sex abuse, only two offenders where found to be gay or lesbian. More relevant was the finding that of the cases involving molestation of a boy by a man, seventy-four percent of the men were or had been in a heterosexual relationship with the boys mother or another female relative. The conclusion was found that &quot;a child&#039;s risk of being molested by his or her relative&#039;s heterosexual partner is over one hundred times greater than by someone who might be identifiable as being homosexual.&quot; 8

&quot;Children raised in homosexual households will become gay.&quot;

The bulk of evidence to date indicates that children raised by gay and lesbian parents are no more likely to become homosexual than children raised by heterosexuals. As one researcher put it, &quot;If heterosexual parenting is insufficient to ensure that children will also be heterosexual, then there is no reason to conclude that children of homosexuals also will be gay&quot;. 11

Studies asking the children of gay fathers to express their sexual orientation showed the majority of children to be heterosexual, with the proportion of gay offspring similar to that of a random sample of the population. An assessment of more than 300 children born to gay or lesbian parents in 12 different samples shows no evidence of &quot;significant disturbances of any kind in the development of sexual identity among these individuals&quot;. 12

&quot;Children will develop problems growing up in an &#039;unnatural&#039; lifestyle.&quot;

Courts have expressed concern that children raised by gay and lesbian parents may have difficulties with their personal and psychological development, self-esteem, and social and peer relationships. Because of this concern, researchers have focused on children&#039;s development in gay and lesbian families.

The studies conclude that children of gay or lesbian parents are no different than their counterparts raised by heterosexual parents. In &quot;Children of Lesbian and Gay Parents,&quot; a 1992 article in Child Development, Charlotte Patterson states, &quot;Despite dire predictions about children based on well-known theories of psychosocial development, and despite the accumulation of a substantial body of research investigating these issues, not a single study has found children of gay or lesbian parents to be disadvantaged in any significant respect relative to children of heterosexual parents.&quot;

Psychiatrist Laurintine Fromm, of the Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital, agrees with that finding. &quot;[The] literature...does not indicate that these children fare any worse [than those of heterosexual parents] in any area of psychological development or sexual identity formation. A parent&#039;s capacity to be respectful and supportive of the child&#039;s autonomy and to maintain her own intimate attachments, far outweighs the influence of the parent&#039;s sexual orientation alone.&quot;

http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_gay/f_gayb.cfm

more -credible- unbiased information to come....</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;If you consider â€œask them.â€ credible but discount professionals with a wide range of degrees, as not credible, feel free to provide â€œreal, credible, unbiased proofâ€ of your position.&#8221;</p>
<p>The only way your team of professionals would be able to tell who is gay and who is not would be to do exactly what I suggested.  To &#8220;ask them&#8221;.  I guess you think you have to have a degree to ask a question and make it credible.</p>
<p>-</p>
<p>Can Lesbians, Gay Men, and Bisexuals Be Good Parents?</p>
<p>Yes. Studies comparing groups of children raised by homosexual and by heterosexual parents find no developmental differences between the two groups of children in four critical areas: their intelligence, psychological adjustment, social adjustment, and popularity with friends. It is also important to realize that a parent&#8217;s sexual orientation does not dictate his or her children&#8217;s.</p>
<p>Another myth about homosexuality is the mistaken belief that gay men have more of a tendency than heterosexual men to sexually molest children. There is no evidence to suggest that homosexuals are more likely than heterosexuals to molest children.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.apa.org/topics/orientation.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.apa.org/topics/orientation.html</a></p>
<p>-</p>
<p>&#8220;In summary, there is no evidence to suggest that lesbian women or gay men are unfit to be parents or that psychosocial development among children of lesbian women or gay men is compromised relative to that among offspring of heterosexual parents. Not a single study has found children of lesbian or gay parents to be disadvantaged in any significant respect relative to children of heterosexual parents. Indeed, the evidence to date suggests that home environments provided by lesbian and gay parents are as likely as those provided by heterosexual parents to support and enable children&#8217;s psychosocial growth.&#8221;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/lgpconclusion.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/lgpconclusion.html</a>   (Conclusion)<br />
<a href="http://www.apa.org/pi/parent.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.apa.org/pi/parent.html</a>   (Entire study of research done in area)</p>
<p>-</p>
<p>&#8220;Children will be molested by homosexual parents.&#8221;</p>
<p>There is no legitimate scientific research connecting homosexuality and pedophilia. Sexual orientation (homosexual or heterosexual) is defined as an adult attraction to other adults. Pedophilia is defined as an adult sexual attraction or perversion to children.7 In a study of 269 cases of child sex abuse, only two offenders where found to be gay or lesbian. More relevant was the finding that of the cases involving molestation of a boy by a man, seventy-four percent of the men were or had been in a heterosexual relationship with the boys mother or another female relative. The conclusion was found that &#8220;a child&#8217;s risk of being molested by his or her relative&#8217;s heterosexual partner is over one hundred times greater than by someone who might be identifiable as being homosexual.&#8221; 8</p>
<p>&#8220;Children raised in homosexual households will become gay.&#8221;</p>
<p>The bulk of evidence to date indicates that children raised by gay and lesbian parents are no more likely to become homosexual than children raised by heterosexuals. As one researcher put it, &#8220;If heterosexual parenting is insufficient to ensure that children will also be heterosexual, then there is no reason to conclude that children of homosexuals also will be gay&#8221;. 11</p>
<p>Studies asking the children of gay fathers to express their sexual orientation showed the majority of children to be heterosexual, with the proportion of gay offspring similar to that of a random sample of the population. An assessment of more than 300 children born to gay or lesbian parents in 12 different samples shows no evidence of &#8220;significant disturbances of any kind in the development of sexual identity among these individuals&#8221;. 12</p>
<p>&#8220;Children will develop problems growing up in an &#8216;unnatural&#8217; lifestyle.&#8221;</p>
<p>Courts have expressed concern that children raised by gay and lesbian parents may have difficulties with their personal and psychological development, self-esteem, and social and peer relationships. Because of this concern, researchers have focused on children&#8217;s development in gay and lesbian families.</p>
<p>The studies conclude that children of gay or lesbian parents are no different than their counterparts raised by heterosexual parents. In &#8220;Children of Lesbian and Gay Parents,&#8221; a 1992 article in Child Development, Charlotte Patterson states, &#8220;Despite dire predictions about children based on well-known theories of psychosocial development, and despite the accumulation of a substantial body of research investigating these issues, not a single study has found children of gay or lesbian parents to be disadvantaged in any significant respect relative to children of heterosexual parents.&#8221;</p>
<p>Psychiatrist Laurintine Fromm, of the Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital, agrees with that finding. &#8220;[The] literature&#8230;does not indicate that these children fare any worse [than those of heterosexual parents] in any area of psychological development or sexual identity formation. A parent&#8217;s capacity to be respectful and supportive of the child&#8217;s autonomy and to maintain her own intimate attachments, far outweighs the influence of the parent&#8217;s sexual orientation alone.&#8221;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_gay/f_gayb.cfm" rel="nofollow">http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_gay/f_gayb.cfm</a></p>
<p>more -credible- unbiased information to come&#8230;.</p>
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