Kids Rised by Gay Parents Turn Out About the Same, no better, no worse

Research suggests that they turn out about the same, no better, no worse and no more likely to be gay than other kids - I am sure that this is not surprising to anyone other than the Christianist extremist. However, the more that research comes out and confirms what ought to be self-evident to rational people, the better to blunt the lies put out by the Christianists. A story in today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette examines the issue: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07161/793042-51.stm:

So how are they doing, now that they've reached young adulthood? Some critics have suggested these children -- along with Samuel David Cheney, Mary Cheney's infant son -- are doomed to a life of struggle compared with those raised in a more traditional, Ozzie-and-Harriet-model family, with a mother and a father.

But most studies have found that outcomes for children of gay and lesbian parents are no better -- and no worse -- than for other children, whether the measures involve peer group relationships, self-esteem, behavioral difficulties, academic achievement, or warmth and quality of family relationships. No one knows precisely how many children in the United States have at least one parent who is lesbian or gay. Estimates range all the way from 1 million to 9 million.

For many of these young people, though, growing up in what census researchers call a "same-sex parent household" doesn't have to be a big deal -- except that, these days, it is.

A number of professional medical organizations -- including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychiatric Association -- have issued statements claiming that a parent's sexual orientation is irrelevant to his or her ability to raise a child. For the most part, the organizations are relying on a relatively small but conclusive body of research -- approximately 67 studies -- looking at children of gay parents and compiled by the American Psychological Association. In study after study, children in same-sex parent families turned out the same, for better or for worse, as children in heterosexual families.

All of this is anathema, however, to Peter Spriggs of the Family Research Council, a conservative group that assailed Mary Cheney's pregnancy.

Peter Sprigg is typical of the Christianist mouth pieces who act as thought they are experts on the issue when in fact, all they have to back up there claims is religious fanaticism. Here are Spriggs actual credentials (or lack thereof):

Mr. Sprigg earned a Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude from Drew University (N.J.), with a double major in political science and economics. He received the master of divinity degree cum laude from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Mass.). For ten years Mr. Sprigg served as a professional actor and unit leader in Covenant Players, a Christian drama ministry based in California.

He assumed the position of Senior Director of Culture Studies at the Family Research Council in July of 2001, and in such role, he oversees the Family Research Council’s efforts to analyze and influence American culture as it relates to religion; government; the arts; media and entertainment; the homosexual agenda; race and ethnicity; and drugs. Mr. Sprigg is an ordained minister in the American Baptist Churches USA, and most recently served as pastor of Clifton Park Center Baptist Church in Clifton Park, N.Y.

In short, other than being a small time actor, baptist preacher, and paid mouth piece, Sprigg has no expertise on child raising, psychology or mental health issues. Unfortunately, the media NEVER calls these people on their lack of credentials.