FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

RESEARCH Notes for Researchers Facts Frequently Asked Questions Research Advice Bibliography Summary of Existing Research

How many people in the United States have LGBT parents?  

Unfortunately, we cannot provide you with an exact number.   The 2000 United States Census was the first time that a large-scale attempt to record such information was made.   Previous Census forms only allowed people to select "single" or "married."   Now there is a category for unmarried couples who live in the same residence, which applies to many straight as well as lesbian, gay, and bisexual couples.   Analysis of the results of adding this category to the Census revealed that there are more than 250,000 people under the age of 18 living with unmarried same-sex couples.  

If you choose to use the Census statistic, however, it is important to be very specific about what it describes.   The census did not measure the total number of people with LGBT parents, or the number of LGBT people who are parents.   It did one thing and one thing only, and that is to measure the number of unmarried same-sex couples who reported having children under the age of 18 residing with them in their household.   This means that in the census, only a very small portion of LGBT families were actually counted. Here are factors to keep in mind when reviewing Census data or estimating how many people have LGBT parents:

• Many children who have an LGBT parent might not live with that parent, or they might live with that parent only part of time.  
• Many LGBT parents are not "out."   They may still be in a heterosexual marriage, or they may simply have chosen not to disclose honestly to census takers who was in their household and what were the relationships between them.   In many states it is still legal to discriminate against LGBT people in education, employment, housing, marriage, as well as foster care and adoption agencies.   There are many reasons for LGBT parents to hide their status.  
• Not all LGBT parents are part of a couple that resides together.   There are children who have ONE LGBT parent - for example, their single lesbian mom, or their single gay dad.   There are also children whose parent is in a relationship but not sharing a residence.   These children are growing up in an LGBT household, but the Census counts them as growing up with a single parent.  
• The Census did not include any way for people to identify as transgender, which means it also did not record the number of children living (or not living) with a transgender parent.
• The Census only counted children under the age of 18.   It did not record the number of adults (many of whom no longer live with their parents at all) who have one or more LGBT parent.
• Many researchers, queerspawn, and LGBT family activists estimate that there are millions of youth and adults with LGBT parents nationwide. See Facts >

How are children with LGBT parents different from children with straight parents?

From the standpoint of child development, there have been several studies done attempting to compare children from straight families with children from LGBT families, especially lesbian-headed families.   Researchers have concluded that sexual orientation of a parent does not have a significant impact on the mental health, coping skills, peer relationships, or general maturation process.   For a detailed summary of the research findings, with bibliography, please consult the website of the American Psychological Association: http://www.apa.org/pi/parent.html.

While the research has successfully proven that having a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender parent does not harm a child or prevent them from developing normally, this does not mean that the experience of having queer family is meaningless to who we are as people.   Many people feel that having one or more LGBT parents or guardians has affected some part of their lives: general outlook, relationship to family, attachment to tradition, gender expression and identity, political opinions, religious beliefs, etc.   Although our families are, in many ways, 'just like everyone else's', our unique experiences and perspectives are also a source of pride.  

Are the children of LGBT parents more likely to be LGBT?

About 10% of children with LGBT parents will themselves go on to identify as LGBT.   This is the same as for the general population.   In COLAGE, people who have LGBTQ parents and also identify as LGBTQ are called "2nd Gen," as in second generation.  

Whatever your age, if you are the child of an LGBTQ parent and you identify as LGBTQ, or are questioning our sexuality or gender identities, COLAGE has an email list for you.   Our 2nd Gen community is open anyone looking for place for community, fun, wisdom, or friendship.