influence of parents on thier childrens sexual orientation

The Influence of Parents on Their Children's Sexual OrientationBailey, J.
Michael. Sexual Orientation of Adult Sons of Gay Fathers.
Developmental Psychology. 1995, Vol. 31, No. 1, 124-129Golombok,
Susan. Do Parents Influence the Sexual Orientation of Their Children?
Findings From a Longitudinal Study of Lesbian Families.
Developmental Psychology. 1996, Vol. 32, No. 1,
3-11Meyer-Bahlburg, Heino F.L. Parental Influences on the Development
of Homosexual Orientation. Developmental Psychology. 1995, Vol.
31, No. 1, 12-21Patterson, Charlotte. Sexual Orientation and Human
Development. Developmental Psychology. 1995, Vol. 31, No. 1, 3-11
Do parents influence their children's sexuality? The answer may
surprise you: no they do not. It has been found that about 90% of sons of
gay fathers are heterosexual (Bailey 124). It was also found that 90% of
daughters of lesbian women are also heterosexual (Golombok 4).
According to a poll taken by Northwestern University almost 95% of
people expect children of homosexual parents to be homosexual
themselves (Bailey 125). This popular belief has affected many child
custody decisions because of the possibility of the parents molesting the
children, or the possibility of the children becoming homosexual
themselves. Even if the children becoming homosexual is a possibility,
why deny custody to a parent based on his or her sexuality? The
question has been raised on what can and what can't make a child
homosexual. Some believe that children learn by imitating their parents.
This theory cannot be totally rejected, but due to recent research it is
believed to be more unlikely. Others have said that children identify with
an opposite-sex parent and copying their behavior, this coupled with a
distant same-sex parent makes the argument even more believable. It is
also possible that homosexual parents reinforce certain types of behavior,
either homo- or heterosexual (Bailey 125-126). Some say that hormones
affect the sexuality of children, which may be inherited from the parents.
For example, an anatomical difference in the hypothalamus of

homosexual men has recently been identified, but the reason for this
difference is still unknown (Golombok 4). Sex hormones are seen by
some as the likely factor in the development of sexual orientation
because sex hormone action underlines sexual differentiation and the
development of secondary sex characteristics. Studies of the association
of sex hormone levels during adolescence and adulthood have yielded
negative results, but there have been some positive results in some
prenatal studies (Meyer-Bahlburg 12). It has been found that gay and
lesbian families both reinforce and punish homosexual attitudes in their
children in about equal numbers (Patterson 3). So then, why do only
10% of the children in these families become homosexual? This question
brings up much debate, but the only real answer is still unknown. There
are many good theories, but none are yet to be proven. In an estimate of
homosexual persons in the United States, it was found that there are
more than 20 million, or 10% of the population, homosexuals in America.
Is it a coincidence that 10% of America's population is homosexual, and
10% of the children of homosexual parents become homosexual (Bailey
126)? This point was brought up by Bailey, and it is a very good point,
could the results be just a reflection of the entire country? In order to find
out, a poll must be taken to find out what percentage of children of
heterosexual parents were homosexual. He found out that 9% of the
children of heterosexual parents polled were homosexual. This further
supported his theory that parent influence does not contain that much
weight in whether or not a child becomes homosexual. In the article
written by Charlotte Patterson, she states that there is no evidence of
difficulties encountered by children of gay or lesbian families. She also
found, as others have, that many children of gay and lesbian families,
many of the children identify themselves as heterosexual. She also found
that that sexual orientation was unrelated to the amount of time the
children spent living with their homosexual parents, a result that would

seem to be at odds with many versions of environmental theories about
the transmission of sexual orientation (Patterson 5-6). Due to incomplete
research an answer is still unknown to why children become homosexual.
It is known that the influence of parents is unlikely, but still very possible.
Whether it be hormones or genes inherited from the parents, or the
environment a child is brought up in, researchers still need to complete
their studies on the issue to find out the truth behind the matter.