Children raised by gay parents may do better

YOUR columnist Hermann Kelly (Irish Examiner, February 22) claims “there is a raft of comprehensive studies showing the best and safest environment for the upbringing of a child is in a stable natural family based on marriage”.

Leaving aside the question of whether or not a married heterosexual couple really constitutes a “natural” family, I wonder if Mr Kelly could cite even one example from this “raft of comprehensive studies?

His claim is somewhat surprising, especially since research conducted since the 1970s has consistently demonstrated that children brought up in gay families fare no worse than those brought up in straight ones.

Some studies have actually indicated that children brought up by gay parents may fare better.

Their parents work harder at parenthood, being all too aware of the need to compensate for the prejudices their children face from people who believe heterosexual families are inherently better than homosexual ones.

Marianne MacDonald

Radharc na Mara

Dunquin

Co Kerry