Contrary to the arguments put forward by opponents of same-sex parenting, children who grow up with same-sex parents do as well as others. They would even have fewer psychological problems than children raised in heteroparental families.
Growing up in a homoparental family would be detrimental to the best interests of the child, according to opponents of adoption for same-sex couples, assisted reproduction and surrogacy. A study contradicts their arguments: children raised in same-sex families are doing as well as children in heteroparental families. The results were published in the Journal of Developmental Behavorial Pediatrics.
A survey based on a questionnaire
To conduct this research, the scientists created three groups: 70 gay men whose children were born to surrogate mothers, 125 lesbian mothers who had children through donated sperm, and 195 heterosexual couples who had children by spontaneous conception. . The children ranged from 3 to 11 years old. The results are based on the parents’ responses to questionnaires: “What are the child’s strengths and weaknesses?”, “How does he / she behave?”, “Do you consider yourself successful in being a good parent? “,” Are things going well in your family? “, The answers collected show that the children of same-sex couples had fewer psychological problems than the children of heterosexual couples. Gay men were more likely to describe themselves as happy and competent than heterosexual couples. Flexibility and family cohesion were also stronger in the latter than in the other two groups. Researchers have found no connection between family type and the health of the child.
In 2017, a study gathered data from 79 research studies conducted on the subject. 95% of them showed that there was no difference in the social, emotional and educational development of children, whether they grew up in a heterosexual family or in a homosexual family.
“I never felt a lack”
Since the debates on same-sex marriage, many testimonies from children of same-sex parents have been published. On the site Stop Homophobia, François, 27, tells his story. He grew up surrounded by two mothers who warned him of the prejudices he was going to face: “They let me know that we were different, but that it was okay, because we loved each other. It was with this idea that I walked around and that was my tool. ” François grew up surrounded by male figures: an uncle, a godfather and grandfathers. “I saw them often and I never felt a lack. I don’t want to denigrate anything, but I don’t see what a father could have taught me more,” he explains.
Louise, also 27, confided in Inrockuptible in 2013. Having two mothers was never a problem for her: “I never had a negative feedback on the fact that my parents were homosexual. Even at school, there was no no embarrassment in my classmates, so I never asked myself more questions than that about the ‘normality’ of my situation. “
The persistence of homophobia
#LT “The general increase in testimonials is accompanied by a 15% increase in cases of physical assault. 139 cases reported to the association in 2017, i.e. an LGBTphobic assault every 3 days in France! ” # ReportHomophobia2018 pic.twitter.com/72IVNA2dA5
– SOS homophobia (@SOShomophobie) May 16, 2018
In 2017, SOS homophobia collected 4.8% more testimonies from victims of homophobic acts compared to the previous year. In 2016, this number had already increased by 19.5%. According to the interministerial delegation for the fight against racism, anti-Semitism and anti-LGBT hatred, 1026 offenses of a homophobic or transphobic nature were recorded in 2016.
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