Layout 1

Cultural Variations in Marriage and Family

gained much attention in recent years:
same-sex couples raising children. We will
attempt to present the information in a
non-biased way, devoid of an agenda and
reserve the Christian viewpoint on same-
sex couples for the last section of this
chapter. Currently, not enough data exists
to confirm the percentage of families who
currently live this lifestyle. According to
the Census Bureau, there are about
780,000 same-sex couples, representing
0.7% of the total number of households
(2006b). However, the National Center for
Health Statistics reports 4.1% of American
men and women identify themselves as
lesbian, gay, or bisexual (Mosher,
Chandra, & Jones, 2005).
In the introduction to this text, we
examined some of the issues surrounding
the same-sex marriage debate. The extent
of rights or privileges these couples
experience varies from state to state. At the
current writing, two states, Massachusetts
and California authorize same-sex
marriages, extending all the rights of
heterosexual spouses to same-sex couples.
Seven states, Maine, New Hampshire,
Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut,
Rhode Island, and Iowa and the District of
Columbia recognize same-sex marriages.
Civil unions or domestic partnerships
grant nearly all the privileges afforded by
marriage and many states offer domestic
partnerships, granting some of the rights
of marriage. Without the legal provisions
of civil unions or domestic partnerships,

partners and children do not qualify as

dependents for health care benefits,

retirement benefits, social security,

pension, or death benefits. This can cause

additional strain, both financial and

emotional, on these families.

The Children of Same-Sex Couples

Many same-sex couples are parents.

Certain high-profile celebrities have

publicized their same-sex family forms,

including the addition of children by

adoption or in vitro fertilization.

Sometimes, the children are in the custody

of one of the partners from a previous

heterosexual marriage.

One of the debates surrounding same-

sex couples is how it affects children. On

one side, same-sex advocates suggest

children will be fine and there are many

studies to support their position (Bos, van

Balen, & van Den Boom, 2004, 2007; Bos

& van Balen, 2008; Goldberg, 2007;

Golombek et al., 2003; MacCallum &

Golombok, 2004; Meezan & Rauch, 2005;

Tasker, 2005). On the other side of the

debate, there is more skepticism. Since no

longitudinal studies of same-sex

households have followed children into

adulthood, can we say children will be

fine? Research exploring diversity of

parental relationships is just beginning

(Perrin, 2002). There are some studies

which have shown a negative impact on