English 8, Group 16 Unit 3 –argumentative essay

Name Juan David Collazos Date 23-10-21

The untreated side of same-sex parenting

LGBT parents, it is a topic that is not commonly heard today but that was almost unthinkable before
when homosexuality was even considered a mental illness. We currently have a lot of diversity
compared to previous years. According to estimates from the 2019 Current Population Survey
Annual Social and Economic Supplement, there are 543,000 same-sex married couple households
in the United States. Parenting is not far from all these changes. There are children living in
approximately 27% of the same-sex married couple households of United States without having any
problem due to this type of parenting. Traditional minded people have to change the chip. For
example, it is not surprising to find discrimination from classmates towards children raised by
parents of the same gender even if they have the same capabilities and this should change from the
education of each child. Therefore, families with same-sex parents should be consider as good as
traditional ones.

Homosexual parenting is not bad for children. There is some research that shows the lack of
difference between children raised in a traditional way and those raised by parents of the same
gender. A study published in 2016 using data from the US National Survey of Children’s Health for
2011-12 compared outcomes for children aged 6 to 17 years in 95 female same-sex parented
families and 95 opposite-sex parented families, finding no differences in outcomes for children
raised by lesbian parents compared to heterosexual parents. Parenting is what parenting is, does not
matter the gender of the parents. Same gender parents’ stories posted in Gay Parent Magazine talks
about beautiful life experiences for both children and parents. Same gender parenting should be
even better than traditional parenting. Many psychologists agree that same-gender parenting is even
better for children because it allows them to grow in an environment without judgment and allows
them to be more open with their emotions and expressions. In short, growing with parents of the
same gender can be positive for children because they will be able to express their emotions without
being judged.

Same sex parents are better for adoption. Usually, big percentages of same sex couples choose
adoption in comparison with heterosexual couples. The 2007 report by the Urban Institute also
found that more than half of gay men and 41 percent of lesbians in the U.S. would like to adopt and
they help a lot of children per year giving them a home and a family. Also, adoptive families with
LGBT parents show great advantages for children. The adoption agency LifeLong Adoptions
posted a list of advantages they found with LGBT adoptive families including relationships more
stable, more motivation, children more sympathetic, open minded and less hindered by gender
stereotypes. Dr. Nanette Gartrell said, “They were raised by parents who were nonjudgmental and
may be more attuned to their own feelings because of the environments in which they were raised”
referring to children raised by same gender parents in his investigation about the comparison with
traditional parenting. Talking about adoption same sex parents have the advantage because more of
them choose adoption and they have more stable relationships and more positive effects on
children.
Contrary to what many people believe, parents of the same sex do not play a determining role in the
sexual orientation of their children. Some researchers tends to consider homosexual parents’
influence crucial for the children’s sexual orientation. For instance, an investigation from The
Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy shows that of
76 children of same gender parents, 70 percent of females and 90 percent of males identified as
“heterosexual or straight,” compared to 88 percent of females and 98 percent of males in the
demographically matched NSFG group but there is a mistake if they consider the parents influence
as the reason for this percentages. Dr. Nanette Gartrell told there are multiple theories to explain
sexual orientation including hormones, genetics, and the environment but the evidence suggests that
there is no factor that is a single determinant. Gartrell add that these numbers can be explained
because “these children have more expansive perspectives on sexuality, and they were raised by
parents who were nonjudgmental and may be more attuned to their own feelings”. In fact, parents’
sexual orientation is not determinant for child’s one because there are a lot of factors that influence
it and until now there is no evidence for point a single determinant of sexual orientation.

In conclusion, families with same-sex parents should be consider as good as traditional ones. This
kind of consideration would reduce inequality and discrimination in society. Also, growing with
parents of the same gender can be positive for children because they will be able to express their
emotions without being judged. Another positive thing is that parents of the same sex tend to adopt
in a higher percentage and their homes tend to be more stable and positive for children. Even if a lot
of people thinks parents’ sexual orientation will be a crucial determinant for children’s one, the
research show that there is a list of factors to determinate that orientation and not a single factor like
parents’ influence. We all must make a difference starting with the education children receives at
home in order to make our world and society better with equality and respect.

References:

 Power, J. (2017). Are children ‘better off’ with a mother and father than with same-sex
parents?. The conversation. Taken from https://theconversation.com/factcheck-are-children-
better-off-with-a-mother-and-father-than-with-same-sex-parents-82313

 Linville, D. Same Sex Parents and Their Children. American Association for Marriage and
Family Therapy. Taken from https://aamft.org/Consumer_Updates/Same-
sex_Parents_and_Their_Children.aspx

 Moreau, J. (2019). Adult children of lesbian parents less likely to identify as straight, study
finds. NDC News. Taken from https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/adult-children-
lesbian-parents-less-likely-identify-straight-study-finds-n989976

 LGBT adoption advantages. Lifelong adoptions. Taken from

https://www.lifelongadoptions.com/lgbt-adoption/lgbt-adoption-advantages