This is in response to Charles Glomski's June 30 letter, "Heterosexual unions better for children." Mr. Glomski's assertion that children are happier and better off in heterosexual households is incorrect. Children who grow up with gay or lesbian parents are no different in terms of self-esteem, well-being, peer relationships, behavior, gender identity or parental stress. Extensive studies have found that children of same-sex couples may have an advantage because they become less aggressive, more nurturing and more tolerant of diversity.
But wait, it gets better! Gay parents with children tend to be more motivated and committed than the average heterosexual parents because they choose to have children; there are no accidental pregnancies for gay people. This means that they are also financial prepared to start a family.
The most positive point about same-sex parents is that they often adopt children who would have had a tough time finding a good home. Unlike straight parents, gay parents often choose to adopt children who are older or a minority. They are giving a chance to children who may have otherwise been stuck in the foster care system for the majority of their childhood. These facts come from WebMD.com and livescience.com — I didn't make them up.
Melanie Marks
Schaumburg
