|
Same-sex
parenting
is bad for kids
As the Government
seems set to allow a free vote on gay adoption, a new book highlights
the overwhelming evidence that same-sex parenting is bad for children.
Sociologist Patricia
Morgan has written the largest review of the research ever published
in Europe. The book, Children as trophies?, considers 144 academic
papers including 50 on same-sex parenting.
In 1998 the then
Home Secretary, Jack Straw MP, said that he was against gay adoption
because "We should not see children as trophies". He
argued that the evidence showed marriage is the best environment in
which to raise children.
Patricia Morgan
agrees:
"If public policy is based on clear research, there is no case
for changing the adoption law to allow same-sex couples or unmarried
couples to be able to adopt children."
"It is difficult
to find such poor quality research as that which purports to show that
same-sex parenting is as least as good if not superior to parenting
by married couples. In many cases the word 'research' is a misnomer
since often the only evidence consists of collections of anecdotes.
This is often advocacy parading as research. I hope my book will raise
the standard of debate in this area."
Colin Hart,
Director of The Christian Institute, said today:
"The overwhelming evidence is that same-sex parenting is bad for
kids. Patricia Morgan's book will be a devastating blow to those who
think that any combination of adults can make good parents. The research
is crystal clear: children need a male and a female role model in a
permanent relationship."
"Many involved
in social work support homosexual adoption, but in practice it happens
very rarely. There may only be 3 or 4 cases a year. But things will
not stay this way if the Government reverses its position and supports
amendments to its Adoption Bill allowing the grounds for adoption to
be changed."
"If homosexual
adoption is legalised children will suffer. I think it's cruel deliberately
to deny adopted children a mother or a father for no other reason than
to support gay rights."
Mr Hart continued : "My great fear is that the Government will
ignore the evidence and cave into pressure from those who want same
sex-adoption for ideological reasons. The public are not convinced.
British Social Attitudes reports that 84% of the public oppose adoption
by male homosexuals (page 10 of Children as trophies)."
"Patricia
Morgan's book also shows that parenting by married couples produces
better outcomes for children than parenting in cohabiting households.
I hope that the Government will not make it legal to place children
with adults who are only in a temporary relationship."
"Christians
such as Dr Barnardo pioneered the substitute care of children in this
country. Even today most of the large charities involved with adoption
and fostering have Christian roots. It is therefore very sad that most
of these agencies now support homosexual adoption. Only the Evangelical
and Roman Catholic agencies still resist homosexual fostering and adoption.
This book by Patricia Morgan shows that the evidence is clearly on their
side."
Key
points from Children as trophies?
- There is not
a single published comparative study of the effects of homosexual
foster care or adoption. Advocates of gay adoption can only cite studies
on homosexual parenting. (page 127)
- Despite repeated
assertions to the contrary, many studies indicate significant differences
between homosexual and heterosexual parenting outcomes for children,
particularly the likelihood that children of homosexuals may become
involved in homosexual behaviour themselves. (page 67)
- In fact some
researchers in favour of gay adoption even admit that such children
are more likely to be homosexual. (pages 77, 78, 85ff)
- Gender confusion
seems to be rife with daughters of lesbian mothers. (page 78)
- Studies commonly
fail to test any hypothesis or use a proper control group. Sample
sizes are so small that no deductions can be made. One study which
was headlined as "Gay men make better fathers" did not even
have any children in the study but merely asked opinions. (pages 55-56)
- Evidence from
around the world shows that the married family is the most successful
child rearing environment. (Britain, USA, The Netherlands, New Zealand
- see pages 87-90)
- Pro-gay sociologists
argue that gay adoption should go ahead despite the lack of evidence
in support. (page 132)
- ENDS -
Note for Editors:
(1) The largest study of UK adoption placements (based on year 98/99)
found that 95% of adoptions were with married couples and 5% with single
people.
(2) In rare cases adoption by a single person can have benefits for
a child who has been abused or who has had multiple foster placements.
(3) Adoption by a homosexual couple is illegal. So too is adoption by
an unmarried couple. It has been reported that in 1998 there were only
3 cases where single person adoption has been used to circumvent this
legal ban on gay couples. Adoption by homosexuals is very rare indeed,
but fostering by homosexuals is more common.
(4) The Government's Labour Force Survey found that 0.2% of households
comprise same-sex couples. (see pages 9-10)
Children as trophies? (ISBN 1 90108618 6) by Patricia Morgan
is priced £8.00 inc p+p
For more information contact : Colin Hart on : 0191 281 5664
|
