Gay parenting (resolution in debate)

I affirm the resolution of this debate and stand on the PRO. In this debate, I will attempt to prove that homosexual parents have every possibility to be effective parents as heterosexual ones. My opponent has already set reasonable parameters in this debate, meaning that all I will do is move on to the iteration of my contention.[Contention]Contention: Gay parenting has the possibility to produce healthy children.As much of the newest statistical and scientific evidence points out, gay parents have every potential to produce healthy children as a heterosexual does. This is because the raising of healthy children is dependent on the quality of the parenting provided rather than the sexuality of the pair themselves. This appears to be mostly an evidence debate, so what I will be posting here will be evidence proving this point:"Researchers looked at information gleaned from 15 studies on more than 500 children, evaluating possible stigma, teasing and social isolation, adjustment and self-esteem, opposite gender role models, sexual orientation, and strengths. Studies from 1981 to 1994, including 260 children reared by either heterosexual mothers or same-sex mothers after divorce, found no differences in intelligence, type or prevalence of psychiatric disorders, self-esteem, well-being, peer relationships, couple relationships, or parental stress. "Some studies showed that single heterosexual parents' children have more difficulties than children who have parents of the same sex," Perrin says. "They did better in discipline, self-esteem, and had less psychosocial difficulties at home and at school." Another study of 37 children of 27 divorced lesbian mothers and a similar number of children of heterosexual mothers found no differences in behavior, adjustment, gender identity, and peer relationships." [1]"Gay parents "tend to be more motivated, more committed than heterosexual parents on average, because they chose to be parents," said Abbie Goldberg, a psychologist at Clark University in Massachusetts who researches gay and lesbian parenting. Gays and lesbians rarely become parents by accident, compared with an almost 50 percent accidental pregnancy rate among heterosexuals, Goldberg said. "That translates to greater commitment on average and more involvement." And while research indicates that kids of gay parents show few differences in achievement, mental health, social functioning and other measures, these kids may have the advantage of open-mindedness, tolerance and role models for equitable relationships, according to some research. Not only that, but gays and lesbians are likely to provide homes for difficult-to-place children in the foster system, studies show." [2]This evidence provides a counter to APA studies that state otherwise " A review and study published in Social Science Research states that children raised by same-sex parents are more likely to have lower levels of incomes, poorer mental and physical health, and higher levels of smoking and criminality. These findings have sparked controversy on both sides of the same-sex-marriage debate.After reviewing studies published between 1980 and 2005 cited by the 2005 official brief on same-sex parenting by the American Psychological Association (APA), Dr. Loren Marks from Louisiana State University says that a lot of the evidence that forms the basis of the brief does not stand up to scrutiny.Marks explained: "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. The jury is still out on whether being raised by same-sex-parents disadvantages children. However, the available data on which the APA draws its conclusions, derived primarily from small convenience samples, are insufficient to support a strong generalized claim either way."According to Marks, over 75% of the 59 studies cited in the APA brief were based on small, non-representative, non-random samples that did not include any minority individuals or families. In addition, almost 50% did not include a heterosexual comparison group and only a few analyzed outcomes that extend beyond childhood, such as income, and educational attainment.Marks concludes: "A lack of high quality data leaves the most significant questions unaddressed and unanswered." [3][1] http://www.webmd.com... [2] http://www.livescience.com... [3] http://www.medicalnewstoday.com...