Homosexual preference: a comparison
What is interesting about the debate is how much things perceived as "anti" gay are not reported. Think about it, how often do you hear "study disproves homosexual parents harm children" as a headline? Never, even though these studies are very numerous. Now, there are facts agreed upon in this debate by both sides (shocking, isn't it). Dr. Trayce Hansen, PHD, has a blog summarizing one of the accepted facts. First, 8-21% of those raised by homosexuals have non-heterosexual preferences, and the number for the overall population is 2%. If these percentages are true, children raised by homosexuals are 4-10 times more likely to be non-heterosexuals. Although these facts are still disputed amongst the most extreme homosexual advocates, there is proof the findings to the contrary conceal their evidence or cherry pick their data. To be considered a scientist, one has to put aside their biases and straightforward report their findings. Those that don't are not scientifically viable and, therefore, are considered activists. Dr. Hansen notes, this lends credence to the fact environmental factors, not genes, cause homosexuality (and cause difference in their children). (Hansen 2008)
A review of the studies
Dr. Hansen again has a handy summary. To avoid bias in her report, though, she only reviewed studies by pro homosexual writers (in other words, writers that are against their findings). So no accusation of bias can be argued. In many studies that claim no difference, they will try to hide many differences arguing it is not large. However many studies looking into those differences give contrary results. Stacey and Biblartz (2001) find many differences in children raised by homosexual and heterosexual parents. Most of those differences are negative, in other words those raised by homosexuals are worse off. Many studies (Belcastro, Gramlich, Nicholson, Price, and Wilson, 1993; Baumrind, 1995) have found the studies claiming no differences are so flawed, no definitive conclusions can be made. Lerner and Nagai (2001) go as far to say no conclusions can be made. Now, it would be logical to assume these children will be different, as children raised in different environments have different values, habits, criminal records etc. So, claiming no different is really pointless. Debate should be on whether these differences are negative to development and whether or not they are large and common differences (observe a trend). After reviewing 9 studies, Hansen reports:
A recent study, published in July 2012, notes significant differences in homosexual children. The study, by the way, uses regression to control for the marriage legality difference. The study finds homosexuals are more promiscuous and are less stable. Children like stability. This difference--even when controlling for the marriage factor--exists, and the non-stability harms the child's development and leads to more drug use, homosexual attraction, molestation, criminal activity, lower schooling achievement, etc. The differences exist, and it is hard to deny them. (Regnerus 2012).
A. Dean Byrd, the former president of NARTH, published a review in 2005. His results are not shocking. He finds and cites many studies proving male and female love is shown differently towards a child (a woman is more protective, for example, the father more adventurous) and both are needed to foster proper development. He also cites Stacey and Biblattz (2001), which bolsters his claim. He finds that, when you look at the evidence, the balance of evidence supports a traditionalists view. (Byrd 2005).
Maggie Gallagher and Joshua Baker have found similar results. According to their study, studies finding no difference all have miniscule sample sizes and make many mistakes. Most had non random sample sizes. Many of them would take wealthy homosexuals and compare to single, middle class, divorced heterosexuals obviously slanting the results in favor to the homosexuals. Many social scientists that have been called by gay activists in the courts actually say they cannot make any valid conclusions, as the evidence is so weak. (Maggie and Baker 2004)
Lynn D. Wardle notes in a 1997 study,
Language Achievement: Married 7.7, Cohabiting 6.8, Homosexual 5.5
Mathematics Achievement: Married 7.9, Cohabiting 7.0, Homosexual 5.5
Social Studies Achievement Married 7.3, Cohabiting 7.0, Homosexual 7.6
Sport Interest/Involvement Married: 8.9, Cohabiting 8.3, Homosexual 5.9
Sociability/Popularity: Married 7.5, Cohabiting 6.5, Homosexual 5.0
School/Learning Attitude Married: 7.5, Cohabiting 6.8, Homosexual 6.5
Parent-School Relationships Married: 7.5, Cohabiting 6.0, Homosexual 5.0
Support with Homework Married 7.0, Cohabiting 6.5, Homosexual 5.5
Parental Aspirations Married 8.1, Cohabiting 7.4, Homosexual 6.5 (Sarantakos 1996)
Um... is it me or do children raised by homosexuals do the worse in all categories (even against single parent families) except one?
A 1993 study again proves my point. Belcastro and Gramlich note,
George Rekers* and Mark Kilgus published a 2002 study. They note,
CONCLUSION:
Children raised by homosexuals are different, and that's a fact.
Bibliography:
Trayce Hansen, PHD, “Pro-Homosexual Researchers Conceal Findings: Children Raised by Openly Homosexual Parents More Likely to Engage in Homosexuality” 2008, <http://www.drtraycehansen.com/Pages/writings_prohomo.html>.
What is interesting about the debate is how much things perceived as "anti" gay are not reported. Think about it, how often do you hear "study disproves homosexual parents harm children" as a headline? Never, even though these studies are very numerous. Now, there are facts agreed upon in this debate by both sides (shocking, isn't it). Dr. Trayce Hansen, PHD, has a blog summarizing one of the accepted facts. First, 8-21% of those raised by homosexuals have non-heterosexual preferences, and the number for the overall population is 2%. If these percentages are true, children raised by homosexuals are 4-10 times more likely to be non-heterosexuals. Although these facts are still disputed amongst the most extreme homosexual advocates, there is proof the findings to the contrary conceal their evidence or cherry pick their data. To be considered a scientist, one has to put aside their biases and straightforward report their findings. Those that don't are not scientifically viable and, therefore, are considered activists. Dr. Hansen notes, this lends credence to the fact environmental factors, not genes, cause homosexuality (and cause difference in their children). (Hansen 2008)
A review of the studies
Dr. Hansen again has a handy summary. To avoid bias in her report, though, she only reviewed studies by pro homosexual writers (in other words, writers that are against their findings). So no accusation of bias can be argued. In many studies that claim no difference, they will try to hide many differences arguing it is not large. However many studies looking into those differences give contrary results. Stacey and Biblartz (2001) find many differences in children raised by homosexual and heterosexual parents. Most of those differences are negative, in other words those raised by homosexuals are worse off. Many studies (Belcastro, Gramlich, Nicholson, Price, and Wilson, 1993; Baumrind, 1995) have found the studies claiming no differences are so flawed, no definitive conclusions can be made. Lerner and Nagai (2001) go as far to say no conclusions can be made. Now, it would be logical to assume these children will be different, as children raised in different environments have different values, habits, criminal records etc. So, claiming no different is really pointless. Debate should be on whether these differences are negative to development and whether or not they are large and common differences (observe a trend). After reviewing 9 studies, Hansen reports:
“The preceding nine studies suggest that children raised by homosexual or bisexual parents are approximately 7 times more likely than the general population to develop a non-heterosexual sexual preference. These findings are not surprising. ... [T]he research studies we have to date suggest that non-heterosexuals are far more likely to raise non-heterosexual children than heterosexuals.” (Hansen 2008, "review")
A recent study, published in July 2012, notes significant differences in homosexual children. The study, by the way, uses regression to control for the marriage legality difference. The study finds homosexuals are more promiscuous and are less stable. Children like stability. This difference--even when controlling for the marriage factor--exists, and the non-stability harms the child's development and leads to more drug use, homosexual attraction, molestation, criminal activity, lower schooling achievement, etc. The differences exist, and it is hard to deny them. (Regnerus 2012).
A. Dean Byrd, the former president of NARTH, published a review in 2005. His results are not shocking. He finds and cites many studies proving male and female love is shown differently towards a child (a woman is more protective, for example, the father more adventurous) and both are needed to foster proper development. He also cites Stacey and Biblattz (2001), which bolsters his claim. He finds that, when you look at the evidence, the balance of evidence supports a traditionalists view. (Byrd 2005).
Maggie Gallagher and Joshua Baker have found similar results. According to their study, studies finding no difference all have miniscule sample sizes and make many mistakes. Most had non random sample sizes. Many of them would take wealthy homosexuals and compare to single, middle class, divorced heterosexuals obviously slanting the results in favor to the homosexuals. Many social scientists that have been called by gay activists in the courts actually say they cannot make any valid conclusions, as the evidence is so weak. (Maggie and Baker 2004)
Lynn D. Wardle notes in a 1997 study,
Wait wait wait, the APA says... Sorry, the APA has been refuted by Loren Marks this summer in July. As Marks notes,
“Thus, collectively, the social sciences studies purporting to show that children raised by parents who engage in homosexual behavior are not subject to any significantly enhanced risks are flawed methodologically and analytically, and fall short of the standards of reliability needed to sustain such conclusions.” (Wardle 1997)
“Differences have recurred in connection with myriad issues of societal-level [in children raised by homosexuals] concern including: (a) health, mortality, and suicide risks, (b) drug and alcohol abuse, (c) criminality and incarceration, (d) intergenerational poverty, (e) education and/or labor force contribution, (f) early sexual activity and early childbearing, and (g) divorce rates as adults. … 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.” (Marks 2012)A 1996 study in Australia further bolsters my position. Here are the results:
Language Achievement: Married 7.7, Cohabiting 6.8, Homosexual 5.5
Mathematics Achievement: Married 7.9, Cohabiting 7.0, Homosexual 5.5
Social Studies Achievement Married 7.3, Cohabiting 7.0, Homosexual 7.6
Sport Interest/Involvement Married: 8.9, Cohabiting 8.3, Homosexual 5.9
Sociability/Popularity: Married 7.5, Cohabiting 6.5, Homosexual 5.0
School/Learning Attitude Married: 7.5, Cohabiting 6.8, Homosexual 6.5
Parent-School Relationships Married: 7.5, Cohabiting 6.0, Homosexual 5.0
Support with Homework Married 7.0, Cohabiting 6.5, Homosexual 5.5
Parental Aspirations Married 8.1, Cohabiting 7.4, Homosexual 6.5 (Sarantakos 1996)
Um... is it me or do children raised by homosexuals do the worse in all categories (even against single parent families) except one?
A 1993 study again proves my point. Belcastro and Gramlich note,
“A disturbing revelation was that some of the published works had to disregard their own results in order to conclude that homosexuals were fit parents. We believe that the system of manuscript review by peers, for minimum scientific standards of research, was compromised in several of these studies.The last part was not worded well, so in other words it was saying the no difference assumption is not supported by the current research.
The conclusion that there are no significant differences in children reared by lesbian mothers versus heterosexual mothers is not supported by the published research data base.” (Belcastro and Gramlich 1993)
George Rekers* and Mark Kilgus published a 2002 study. They note,
“This article discovered that with very few exceptions, the existing studies on homosexual parenting are methodologically flawed and they should be considered no more than exploratory pilot work which suggest directions for rigorous research studies.” (Rekers and Kilgus, 2002)*Even though there is controversy about his orientation (some rumors claim he hired a male prostitute in Europe) it does not invalidate his study. Invalidating his work over his preferences is the genetic fallacy, for info on the genetic fallacy see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_fallacy
CONCLUSION:
Children raised by homosexuals are different, and that's a fact.
Bibliography:
Trayce Hansen, PHD, “Pro-Homosexual Researchers Conceal Findings: Children Raised by Openly Homosexual Parents More Likely to Engage in Homosexuality” 2008, <http://www.drtraycehansen.com/Pages/writings_prohomo.html>.
Trayce Hansen PHD, “A Review and Analysis of Research Studies Which Assessed Sexual Preference of Children Raised by Homosexuals,” 2008, <http://www.drtraycehansen.com/Pages/writings_sexpref.html>
Mark Regnerus, “How different are the
adult children of parents who have same-sex relationships? Findings
from the New Family Structures Study,” Social Science Research Vol 41, Issue 4 (July 2012)
A. Dean Byrd, Ph.D. “Gender Complimentary and Child-rearing: Where Tradition and Science agree” QUINNEY COLLEGE OF LAW, Vol. 6, (2005)
Maggie Gallagher and Joshua K. Baker
“Do Moms And Dads Matter? Evidence From The Social Sciences On Family
structure And The Best Interests Of The Child” Margins Law Journal, (2004)
Lynn D. Wardle, “The Potential Impact of Homosexual Parenting on Children.” University of Illinois Law Review, (1997)
Loren Marks. “Same-sex Parenting and Children’s Outcomes: A Closer
Examination of the American Psychological Association’s Brief on Lesbian
and Gay Parenting.” Social Science Research 41.4 (2012)
S. Sarantakos, “Children in three contexts: Family, education, and social development.” Children Australia, (1996)
Belcastro, P., Gramlish, T., Nicholson, T., Price, J.,
Wilson, R. "A review of data-based studies addressing the effects
of homosexual parenting on children's sexual and social
functioning." Journal of Divorce amd Remarriage 20, 1/2:105-122.
(1993)
George Rekers and Mark Kilgus, “Studies of Homosexual Parenting: A Critical Review.” Regent University Law Review. 2001-2002, Vol. 14, No. 2, 343-382.
