DO PARENTS INFLUENCE THE SEXUAL ORIENTATION OF THEIR CHILDREN - FINDINGS FROM A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF LESBIAN FAMILIES

Findings are presented of a longitudinal study of the sexual orientati on of adults who had been raised as children in lesbian families. Twen ty five children of lesbian mothers and a control group of 21 children of heterosexual single mothers were first seen at age 9.5 years on av erage, and again at age 23.5 years on average. Standardized interviews were used to obtain data on sexual orientation from the young adults in the follow-up study, and on family characteristics and children's g ender role behavior from the mothers and their children in the initial study. Although those from lesbian families were more likely to explo re same-sex relationships, particularly if their childhood family envi ronment was characterized by an openness and acceptance of lesbian and gay relationships, the large majority of children who grew up in lesb ian families identified as heterosexual.