In the News
NLLFS research in the news.
Why is purple Friday important for sexual and gender minorities December 6, 2022
Podcast interview with Professor Henny Bos about purple Friday.
Teachers on Rainbow family lessons November 22, 2022
Podcast interview with Professor Henny Bos about what elementary teachers should know about same-sex parent families.
LGBT parents April 19, 2022
Podcast interview with Professor Henny Bos about child rearing in same-sex parent families.
Just being gay October 25, 2022
Podcast interview with Professor Henny Bos about what it means to be gay.
How 'family' is being redefined for the modern world February 15, 2022
Dr. Gartrell is interviewed by the BBC in an article that presents findings from the NLLFS.
Transgender? Children already think stereotypically about gender January 24, 2020
Dr. Henny Bos is interviewed about her research in the daily evening newspaper NRC in The Netherlands.
Le Monde: Les enfants élevés par un couple de femmes se portent aussi bien que les autres September 23, 2019
by Marc-Olivier Bherer
Dr. Gartrell is interviewed in Le Monde (article in French).
NBC News: Adult Children of Lesbian Parents Less Likely to Identify as Straight, Study Finds April 02, 2019
Dr. Gartrell is quoted in this article reporting on the findings in Sexual Attraction, Sexual Identity, and Same-sex Sexual Experiences of Adult Offspring in the US National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study
Women's Media Center Live #257: Robin Morgan on Lesbian Moms July 29, 2018
Robin Morgan of the Woman's Media Center reports on the National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study—Mental Health of Adult Offspring (audio segment starts at 11 minutes).
Los Angeles Times - Researchers Find No Difference Between Kids Raised by two Moms and Kids Raised by Mom and Dad July 18, 2018
Dr. Gartrell is quoted in this article reporting on the findings of the National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study—Mental Health of Adult Offspring, summarized as "children of lesbians had no more behavioral or emotional problems than did a representative sample of kids their age."
U.S. News & World Report - Longest Study Yet Finds Adult Kids of Lesbian Moms Are Doing Fine July 18, 2018
Dr. Gartrell is quoted in this article reporting on the findings of the National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study—Mental Health of Adult Offspring, summarized as "young adults raised by lesbian moms show the same mental well-being as those who grew up with heterosexual parents."
New York Times - Heterosexuals Deserve Our Support September 28, 2017
The NLLFS study Psychological Adjustment of 17-Year-Old Adolescents is cited to show that "teenagers of lesbian mothers were reported to do better socially and academically than other teenagers, and had fewer problems with rule-breaking and aggression."
United Press International (UPI) - More evidence gay parents raise well-adjusted kids April 19, 2016
by Maureen Salamon, HealthDay News
Dr. Gartrell speaks about the uniqueness of the new study "Same-Sex and Different-Sex Parent Households and Child Health Outcomes."
CNN - 'No differences' between children of same-sex and opposite-sex parents April 15, 2016
by Nadia Kounang
Dr. Gartrell is interviewed about their new study that found the children of same-sex parents are just as healthy emotionally and physically as the children of different-sex parents.
Science Daily - For kids raised in stable families, no difference in well-being with same-sex versus different-sex parents April 12, 2016
Drs. Bos and Gartrell comment on their recent study from the April Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics.
Australia Network - Gay Parents Equally Good in Raising Kids as Straight Parents, Study Finds April 12, 2016
by Donald Acosta
Drs. Bos and Gartrell are interviewed about their newest study that found that spouse-partner and parent-child relationships are similar regardless of family structure.
CNN - Talking to Kids about Same-Sex Marriage June 30, 2015
by Katia Hetter
Dr. Gartrell gives advice about talking to kids after the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage.
The Independent, U.K. - Supportive families help children to flourish "no matter what their structure" March 12, 2015
The NLLFS is cited “central" to Professor Golombok’s conclusions in Modern Families: Parents and Children in New Family Forms.
Love Comes First: Creating LGBT Familes March 01, 2015
Dr. Gartrell is interviewed on YouTube in the series LOVE COMES FIRST: Creating LGBT Families.
Slate - What We Know—Really—About Lesbian and Gay Parenting February 15, 2015
Dr. Gartrell is quoted about the Dutch Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study.
What We Know - What does the scholarly research say about the wellbeing of children with gay or lesbian parents? February 01, 2015
Studies by Drs. Gartrell, Bos, and van Rijn-van Gelderen, and Naomi Goldberg are cited on this public policy research portal from Columbia Law School.
Huffington Post - Children Of LGBT Parents Speak Out For "The Let Love Define Family" Series December 12, 2014
Dr. Gartrell is quoted in the “Let Love Define Family™” article.
Huffington Post Live - Queer Window: A Look At The Week's Top LGBT News February 27, 2014
Dr. Gartrell is interviewed on Huffington Post's "Queer Window" show. (Her interview starts at 15:40.)
Los Angeles Times - Three justices' concern over gay parenting surprises experts April 05, 2013
By David G. Savage and Maura Dolan
Comments from Supreme Court arguments startled some child development experts, who say kids raised in same-sex homes fare as well as those with heterosexual parents.
New York Times - Pediatrics Group Backs Gay Marriage, Saying It Helps Children March 21, 2013
by Catherine Saint Louis
The American Academy of Pediatrics declared its support for same-sex marriage for the first time on Thursday, saying that allowing gay and lesbian parents to marry if they so choose is in the best interests of their children.
(Article includes quote by NLLFS principal researcher, Dr. Nanette Gartrell.)
UCLA Today - Researcher sorts out fact from fallacy in three-decade study of lesbian families November 28, 2012
by Judy Lin
In the early 1970s, when being homosexual could get a person arrested, condemned as a "sinner" or diagnosed as mentally ill, gutsy Stanford University undergraduate Nanette Gartrell came out as a lesbian, and then some: She started conducting research to counter pervasive beliefs that gay and lesbians were deviant and even downright dangerous. . . .
Time — How the Gay-Marriage Victories Are (Slowly) Transforming the Notion of Family November 08, 2012
by Bonnie Rochman
On Wednesday, Colleen Ozolitis, and her wife, Lee Ann Martinson, drove together to their son’s Seattle preschool to share their family’s good news. . . .
Buzzfeed Shift — 7 Teenagers Talk About Their Lesbian Moms November 02, 2012
by Hillary Reinsberg
A study conducted by UCLA's Williams Institute asked 17-year-olds who had been raised by lesbian parents to talk about their mothers. Here are some of the things they had to say.
The Times of India — Kids of lesbian couples need no role models June 30, 2012
The children of same-sex parents are not prone to experience psychological problems as adults, a new study has found.
Advocate.com — Male Role Model Makes No Difference for Lesbian Couples' Kids June 20, 2012
by Trudy Ring
The absence of a male role model doesn't affect the well-being of kids raised by lesbian couples, a new study notes.
Buzzfeed Shift — Study: Kids Of Lesbian Moms "Doing Very Well" June 20, 2012
by Anna North
Authors and politicians have long voiced concern that children—especially sons—of lesbian parents might be damaged by the lack of male role models in their lives. So researchers from the University of Amsterdam and UCLA's Williams Institute decided to investigate whether the absence of a man to look up to actually harmed lesbian couples' kids. They found it actually had very little effect—and their work may call into question recent research that showed children of lesbians struggling later in life.
Parenting - Meet the Same-Sex Parents Next Door February 17, 2011
Read one mom's take on how gay parenting is becoming a part of America's social fabric
Discover Magazine – Top 100 Stories of 2010 #88: Same-Sex Parents Do No Harm December 16, 2010
by Amy Barth
Ever since U.S. sperm banks began to accept lesbian clients in the mid-1980s, critics have argued that same-sex parenting could damage children's psychological well-being. In June a 25-year, ongoing study published in the journal Pediatrics came to a very different conclusion, finding that children of lesbian mothers experience healthy social, emotional, and psychological development.
Medscape Medical News — Children in Lesbian Families Less Likely to be Abused by Parent, Other Caregiver November 18, 2010
Adolescents raised in lesbian families are less likely than their peers to be abused by a parental figure, according to new findings from the US National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study.
Read Full News Story (free registration required)
Eurasia Review — Children In Lesbian Families Report No Sexual Abuse November 10, 2010
Teenagers from lesbian families in the United States reported 0% sexual abuse by their parents or guardians.
60 Minutes New Zealand — Gaybe Boomers: The new Kiwi family? November 10, 2010
produced by Alison Horwood
The nature of the New Zealand family is changing fast. It is now quite common for children to be brought up by two lesbian women, or two gay men. Amanda Millar reports on the kids of homosexual couples.
ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corp) — LifeMatters: Lesbian families June 21, 2010
presented by Richard Aedy
What are the long term effects, if any, of being raised by two mothers?
MPR (Minnesota Public Radio) News — The children of gay and lesbian couples June 11, 2010
A new study says the kids of lesbian couples are better adjusted than children raised by heterosexual partners. Radio interview with Dr. Nanette Gartrell.
KPCC, Southern California Public Radio — AirTalk: Do lesbian mommies = better adjusted kids? June 11, 2010
Are two moms better than one? Radio interview with Dr. Nanette Gartrell.
KUOW, Puget Sound Public Radio — The Conversation: Kids Of Lesbians Outperform June 11, 2010
A new study shows that children of lesbian parents perform better academically and in other areas than their peers. We'll hear from the researcher.
KQED Radio — Forum: Children With Lesbian Parents Study June 10, 2010
with Michael Krasny
A nearly 20-year study of the children of lesbian parents concludes that they are as well-adjusted as children of straight parents. We talk with the author of the study, Dr. Nanette Gartrell, about her methodology and conclusions.
Huffington Post — Child Abuse Rate At Zero Percent In Lesbian Households, New Report Finds November 10, 2010
Commentary on new NLLFS publication "Adolescents of the U.S. National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study: Sexual Orientation, Sexual Behavior, and Sexual Risk Exposure".
Pediatrics — What Shall We Call Them? June 07, 2010
by Joseph F. Hagan, Jr, M.D., FAAP, Department of Pediatrics, University of Vermont
Commentary on published article "The USA National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study: Psychological Adjustment of the 17-Year-Old Adolescents."
Read Full Commentary | Peer Review Forum | Abstract of Study
WebMD — Study: Kids of Lesbian Parents Are Well-Adjusted June 07, 2010
by Kathleen Doheny, Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, M.D.
Researchers Say Children of Lesbian Parents Have Fewer Behavior Problems
LA Times Opinion — Parenting should be a nonissue in gay marriage debate June 16, 2010
Supporters of Proposition 8 have made child-rearing a focus of the trial. But no other group is prohibited from marrying because of parental abilities, or lack thereof.
Colbert Report — Testoster-Ruin, Hanna Rosin June 15, 2010
Stephen demands that lesbians stop creating good examples for our kids, microwaves his boxers and asks Hanna Rosin if men are still needed. (08:18)
NewScientist — Children of lesbian parents do better than their peers June 08, 2010
by Jim Giles
The children of lesbian parents outscore their peers on academic and social tests, according to results from the longest-running study of same-sex families.
Telegraph UK — Children raised by lesbians "have fewer behavioural problems" June 08, 2010
Children raised by lesbian parents develop into psychologically sound adolescents and have fewer behavioural problems than their peers, a long-running study has found.
iVillage Health — Study: Kids of Lesbian Moms Do Just Fine June 07, 2010
by Karen Springen
New research finds teens raised by lesbians may be better adjusted than many peers.
Time — Study: Children of Lesbians May Do Better Than Their Peers June 07, 2010
by Alice Park
The teen years are never the easiest for any family to navigate. But could they be even more challenging for children and parents in households headed by gay parents?
HealthDay News — Kids With Lesbian Parents Do Just Fine June 07, 2010
by Serena Gordon
Study shows they might even be better adjusted than kids from traditional families.
Read Full News Story | Also Published on US News & World Report
Reuters — Children of Lesbian Couples Do Well in School, Life June 07, 2010
Being raised by a same-sex couple is no hindrance to healthy psychological development, researchers say as the first generation of children conceived by lesbians through donor insemination is coming of age.
Yahoo! News - Kids raised in lesbian families better adjusted, study finds June 07, 2010
by Liz Goodwin
A new study published in the journal Pediatrics has found that children of lesbian couples are better adjusted socially and academically than children from traditional families.
ABC News - 'Gayby Boom' Fueled by Same-Sex Parents August 03, 2009
by Susan Donaldson James
Post-1980s Children of Gay Parents Thrive in School, More Open Society