Research Exploratory Blog II: Research Prospectus

Gay parenting is a sensitive topic that has been in the media very often the past few years. As more states are legalizing gay marriage more same sex couples are gaining interest in starting their own family. Unfortunately with all the media attention critics have voiced their opinions as well most often arguing that same sex parents will negatively impact the children.

I chose this controversial issue, because I am the daughter of a lesbian mother. My siblings and I have spent the last 9 years of our lives living with my mother and her partner. I would say that the most delicate years of my childhood same sex parents raised me. It never occurred to me that what my mother was doing was wrong or shameful. Life was relatively the same once she came out to my siblings and I about her sexual orientation. My mother continued to raise us as she always had, strict on keeping the house in order, being respectful young adults, and many other things of that nature. My father is also present in my life and supports my mother’s decision. My siblings and I have never felt that we suffered from negative impact due to my mother’s sexuality. That being said, the concerns surrounding gay parenting always confused me and at times infuriated me. Although it has been of concern that children with same sex parents will grow up gay, have a poor psychological health and difficulty in relationships with peers, research has consistently contrasted these fears, proving that children who come from same sex homes develop normally as children from a heterosexual household.

I do expect there to be counterarguments. Whether they are from the religious sector or politicians with a conservative agenda many have attempted to prove that there are negative effects to same sex parenting. I am sure there are several studies published that state their findings prove that children are most successful when a father and mother are present in a household, but I am unsure if those studies considered the possibility that having two parents in a household was the reason for higher success rates, rather than the sex of the parents being to blame.

I have started on researching my topic and feel that I will have great luck finding numerous articles in support of my thesis. So far I have chosen an article written by Jay A. Schulenburg titled ‘Gay parenting’, another article that was written by Donald J. Cantor titled ‘Same sex marriage: the legal and psychological evolution in America and a DVD documentary titles ‘Caught in the crossfire: children of gay and lesbian parents.

            Through the articles I discover through my research I hope to even further prove my thesis. I would like to also hear other arguments made against my thesis. I know the issue is much larger than my individual family and by writing I ultimately hope to make advancements in societies approval of same sex parenting.