Lesbians make the best parents, producing happier and healthier children

LESBIAN couples make the best parents with research showing that their children have higher levels of health and wellbeing.

Shannon and Suzanne Michaels with their daughters Quin, 4, and Arlo, 2.

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LESBIAN couples make the best parents, with research showing their children have higher levels of health and wellbeing.

Studies show a lack of gender stereotyping and equal sharing of traditional nurturing roles creates stronger family bonds and happiness.

A snapshot of studies on same-sex couples released by the Australian Institute of Family Studies shows children with two mums get higher-quality parenting.

Dr Deborah Dempsey from Swinburne University of Technology found the sons of lesbian couples displayed greater gender flexibility, while both sons and daughters displayed more open-mindedness towards diversity in sexuality, gender and family forms.

Dr Simon Crouch from the University of Melbourne also found that families with same-sex parents, men or women, were tighter knit than traditional family units.

“Family cohesion is better in these families,” he said.

One-third of Australian women in same-sex relationships have children and 11 per cent of gay men are dads.

“Children can be raised successfully by gay parents but still we face social stigma,” Brisbane mum of two Suzanne Michaels said.

She married her partner Shannon in Canada and they have two daughters.

“In our home there is no gender division of chores,” she said. “We parent equally, we share the care of our girls. The nurturing role is doubled up and the kids are very much loved.

“But there is no doubt we have to constantly talk to our children and prepare them for the social reaction to them having two mums.

“We try to instil in our girls that families come in all shapes and sizes and that is OK. Anyone who thinks that lesbians and gay men are raising their children to be gay have no understanding that you cannot influence a person’s sexuality or identity. Neither Shannon nor myself are particularly feminine in the traditional sense but our daughter is a real little princess who loves all things girlie; it’s just how she is.”

The AIFS says acceptance of the equality of same-sex couples is steadily increasing, and is strongest among women and young people.