If he enters the race, Warren said he hopes to do more than merely replace Sen. Helms. A new study on gay parenting conducted by Suzanne Johnson, associate professor of psychology at Dowling College in Oakdale, NY shows that gay and lesbian couples make parents equally as good or better than heterosexuals. Johnson examined 415 lesbian and gay parents raising children across America. Both groups tended to be highly educated, with just under half having obtained graduate degrees. About one third of the couples lived in urban areas, nearly one-half lived in the suburbs and the rest lived in rural areas.
Sexual orientation is totally irrelevant.
Silverman said there was one major difference between gay and straight parents. Only 15 percent of the gay and lesbian parents reported using physical methods as a way to discipline their children. The majority relied instead upon discussion and reasoning. Silverman said the use of physical discipline has been associated with giving children lower levels of self-esteem. Unless the state's highest court takes action, the Massachusetts Citizens Alliance will have until December 1 to collect 57,100 qualified signatures in order to put the proposals before voters in November of 2004.