Gay parents are as caring as traditional families

Researchers at University of Cambridge's Centre for Family Research found that gay and lesbian parents are at least as good at coping with the demands of parenting, the Independent reported.

Children do not suffer any disadvantage, and the vast majority are not bullied at school, but the report said that "bullying and teasing are much more of a problem in secondary schools than primary schools; thus, only follow-up will reveal how things turn out in the future."

The experiences of 130 gay, lesbian and heterosexual adoptive families in Britain, with children aged four to eight, were examined - focusing on the quality of family relationships, how parents cope and how children adjust.

The study said that "there was no evidence" to support speculation that children's masculine or feminine tendencies are affected by having gay or lesbian parents.

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Family life and the quality of relationships are very similar for children regardless of their parents' sexual orientation, it said.

Professor Susan Golombok, director of the Cambridge centre and report co-author, said: "What I don't like is when people make assumptions that a certain type of family, such as gay fathers, will be bad for children. The anxieties about the potentially negative effects for children of being placed with gay fathers seem to be, from our study, unfounded."

Gay men are less likely to have depression, anxiety, stress and relationship problems while coping with parenthood.

One reason cited is that "same-sex couples were much less likely to have experienced infertility on their route to parenthood and were more likely to come to adoption as their first choice".

In addition, "gay fathers, in particular, are extremely committed to parenting."