This document discusses same sex parents and provides statistics about LGBTQ families in the United States. It notes that approximately 1 in 9 million children have at least one parent who is lesbian or gay. Around 27% of same sex partner households include children. Research shows that children with same sex parents show no differences in emotional, behavioral, or social development compared to children with heterosexual parents. The document provides resources for support and strategies for making schools inclusive for all families.

1. Same Sex Parents
By: Cooper Simms

2. Description
 Same sex parents are parents of the same sex such as gay,
lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Being a same sex parent
can including adoption, foster parenting, donor
insemination, surrogacy, and from previous heterosexual
relationships.

3. Statistics
 1 and 9 million children in the United States have at least one parent who is
lesbian or gay (International, Inc. Advanced Solutions)
 There are approximately 594,000 same-sex partner households, according to
the 2000 Census, and there are children living in approximately 27 percent of
those households ((International, Inc. Advanced Solutions)
 Among those under age 50 who are living alone or with a spouse or partner,
nearly half of LGBT women (48%) are raising a child under age 18 along with
a fifth of LGBT men (20%).(Gates)
 Among same-sex couples with children under age 18 in the home identified in
the 2011 ACS, 61% are female couples.(Gates)

4. Statistics
 Same-sex couples raising children are four times more likely than their
different-sex counterparts to be raising an adopted child. An estimated
16,000 same-sex couples are raising more than 22,000 adopted children in
the US (Gates) Figure 6
 Same-sex couples are six times more likely than their different-sex
counterparts to be raising foster children. Approximately 2,600 same-sex
couples are raising an estimated 3,400 foster children in the US.(Gates)
 Married or partnered LGBT individuals living in two-adult households with
children are twice as likely as comparable non-LGBT individuals to report
household incomes near the poverty threshold (Gates)

6. Symptoms and Behaviors
 This type of parenting style has no effect of a child’s emotional, behavioral,
or psychosocial adjustment.
 American Academy of Pediatrics states that any conscientious and nurturing
adults, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, can make excellent
parents and should receive equal benefits, rights and protections of civil
marriage in order to bolster their strength as parents. (Miller)
 What to look out for though
 Bullying
 Discrimination
 Provide help with coping or different skills if needed

7. Resources and Support
 The Human Rights Campaign offers a multitude of different websites for
different families needs.
 http://www.hrc.org/resources/topic/parenting
 Family therapy can be a great way to help support a family unit. This can help
with children's coping skills or issues that might arise at school.
 The Center is a website to help same sex parents have healthy relationships
and provide them with information and support for their family needs.
 https://gaycenter.org/family-youth/family

8. Strategies
 Educate yourself more on the topic
 Be open to something that is different
 Always intervene if bullying is seen
 Show visual support with diversity in the classroom
 Never out the student
 Make the classroom accessible
 Signatures for parent or guardian not mom or dad

9. Sources
 https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbt-rights/lgbt-parenting
 https://www.aamft.org/imis15/aamft/Content/Consumer_Updates/Same-
sex_Parents_and_Their_Children.aspx
 Gates, Gary J. "7. Parenting in the United States." Queer Inclusions,
Continental Divisions(2013): n. pag. Feb. 2013. Web. 21 May 2017.
 Miller, Christa. "Gay Parents Effects on Children." LIVESTRONG.COM. Leaf
Group, 21 June 2015. Web. 21 May 2017.
 http://www.colage.org/resources/tips-for-making-classrooms-safer-for-
youth-with-lgbtq-parents/
 https://gaycenter.org/family-youth/family
 http://www.hrc.org/resources/topic/parenting