In 2005 the APA famously articulated the “no difference” thesis: the
moral equivalence of children’s outcomes in regards to heterosexual and
gay parenting. The debate was apparently over, but two studies released
last week have reignited the issue. The first study
contends the samplings of the previous 59 studies were selective by
focusing on the most successful gay parents, well-to-do lesbian couples
from metropolitan areas. The second study
argues heterosexual parenting is more stable than gay parenting because
the former has ‘kin altruism’ (i.e. a natural tie between the parents
and children).
Gay Marriage advocates retort the cause of instability among gay
parents is not ‘kin altruism’ or natural bonds, but gay marriage. Once
gay parents receive public approval, their stability rates will go up.
This could be true, but it still means the ‘no difference’ thesis has to
be put on hold until then.
Slate’s William Saletan
has a different spin on it. He concedes nature is a roadblock for gay
parents, but believes modern reproductive technology can remove it. Gay
parents could increase their stability rates by imitating the
biological/natural model by using the eggs or sperm of the
non-biological parent. Again, this could be true, but it still means the
jury is still out on heterosexual v. gay parenting. And until it
convenes, History’s forward march will have to slow down a little.
