Major study finds children of gay parents do as well or better than peers
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The Age ~ Vince Chadwick
Children of same-sex parents are doing as well or better than the rest of the population on a number of key health indicators.
That is the initial finding from the world's largest study on the children of same-sex parents, under way at Melbourne University.
The Australian Study of Child Health in Same-Sex Families collected data on 500 children nationwide, up to the age of 17.
Of the 315 gay, lesbian and bisexual parents who completed the globally recognised Child Health Questionnaire, 80 per cent were women.
AdvertisementAn interim report found there was no statistical difference between children of same-sex couples and the rest of the population on indicators including self-esteem, emotional behaviour and the amount of time spent with parents.
However, children of same-sex couples scored higher than the national average for overall health and family cohesion, measuring how well the family members get along.
Former prime minister Kevin Rudd said the wellbeing of children had been ''the sole remaining obstacle'' to him supporting same-sex marriage, which he announced in a blog post last month.
Federal Parliament was to vote this week on Greens MP Adam Bandt's private member's bill to legalise same-sex marriage. However, a vote is now unlikely before the election to allow more time for debate.
''Because of the situation that same-sex families find themselves in, they are generally more willing to communicate and approach the issues that any child may face at school, like teasing or bullying,'' lead researcher Dr Simon Crouch said.
''This fosters openness and means children tend to be more resilient. That would be our hypothesis.''
Mother of three Kate Coghlan concurred. ''We talk about everything: from how they were conceived to the different relationships that people have,'' the 39-year-old said. ''They are very accepting and more tolerating of diversity.''
Her partner, Susan Rennie, is the biological mother of Hannah, 8, and Xavier, 6, while Ms Coghlan gave birth to five-year-old Anouk. All three children were conceived through the same known donor.
Ms Coghlan was adopted, so she wanted her children to know as many of their family as possible, including their biological father.
''They say 'yes, we have got a dad; he just doesn't live with us','' she said.
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I knew it ;D ;D ;D g is better
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i do believe any test here is not that's accurate, and is being used as a weapon to supper their own ideas
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This is encouraging
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Keep them coming.
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Yesss they do. My step kids are on honor roll. All grab straight As!!!!!
