Commentaries from around the Web
- Slate : Piece by Dr. Mark Regnerus
“Does it really make no difference if your parents are straight or gay?”
http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2012/06/gay_parents_are_they_really_no_different_.html
Read Dr. Regnerus’s own words about his new findings. - Slate : Exchanges between Regnerus and Saletan
“The Gay Parents Study”
http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/features/2012/gay_parents_study/gay_parents_study_mark_regnerus_and_william_saletan_debate_new_research_.html Dr. Regnerus and Slate’s Will Saletan exchange letters on the merits of Dr. Regnerus’s study. - Letter from Social Scientists
“A Social Science Response to the Regnerus Controversy”
http://www.baylorisr.org/2012/06/a-social-scientific-response-to-the-regnerus-controversy/
Social Scientists throughout the United States voice their support of Dr. Regnerus’s work in this letter. - The Chronicle of Higher Education : Opinion
Piece by Prof. Christian Smith (University of Notre Dame)
“An Academic Auto-da-Fé”
http://chronicle.com/article/An-Academic-Auto-da-F-/133107
A distinguished sociologist condemns the severe criticisms of Dr. Regnerus as ideologically driven. He says Dr. Regnerus’s case reflects a wider lack of open debate in the social sciences that undermines the discipline’s scholarly integrity. - Public Discourse : Personal Story of Prof.
Robert O. Lopez
(California State University–Northridge)
“Growing up with Two Moms: The Untold Children’s View”
http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2012/08/6065
Professor Lopez defends Dr. Regnerus’s work by referring to his personal experience of the effects of having been raised throughout his childhood by his mother and her same-sex romantic partner. - New York Times : Piece in Health by Benedict Carey
“Debate on a Study Examining Gay Parents”
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/health/study-examines-effect-of-having-a-gay-parent.html
Carey offers an objective presentation of Dr. Regnerus’s work, and the responses to it, that takes into account the caveats of the study. - New York Times : Opinion Piece by Ross Douthat
“Gay Parents and the Marriage Debate”
http://douthat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/gay-parents-and-the-marriage-debate/
Douthat fairly represents Dr. Regnerus’s study and broaches policy implications. - Fox News : Opinion Piece by Keith Ablow
“Study finds host of challenges for kids of gay parents”
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/06/12/study-finds-host-challenges-for-kids-gay-parents/
Ablow presents a largely accurate read of the NFSS’s data and scope (though he refers to the study as the NESS). He stresses the importance of this data despite the limitations of the study, presents a cogent defense of the study’s credibility, and warns against silencing data: “Where optimizing the well-being of children is involved, no stone should be left unturned.” - ABC : Video Interview with Mark Regnerus
“How Do Children of Same-Sex Parents Fare?”
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/video/children-sex-parents-fare-16526175
In this 2 minute clip, Dr. Regnerus gives the bare bones of the NFSS. - UT Austin : Initial Release News Report
“Adult Children of Parents in Same-Sex Relationships Report Varied Outcomes”
http://www.utexas.edu/news/2012/06/11/children_same/
This news article published on the UT-Austin webpage highlights Dr. Regnerus’ findings. - The New Republic : Piece by John Corvino
“Are Gay Parents Really Worse For Children? How a New Study Gets Everything Wrong” http://www.tnr.com/blog/plank/104001/are-gay-parents-really-worse-children-how-new-study-gets-everything-wrong
Corvino presents what has been one of the main criticisms of Regnerus’s study. - National Review Online : Piece by Douglas W. Allen
“The Regnerus Debate”
Dr. Allen, a Canadian economist who has studied and reviewed family literature for 26 years, offers a thoughtful response to criticisms of Dr. Regnerus's work. - National Review Online : Piece by Ed Whelan (Part 1)
“Exposing the Schlock Social Science on Gay Parenting--Part 1”
http://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/302462/exposing-schlock-social-science-gay-parenting-part-1-ed-whelan
In Part 1 of a three-part article, Whelan reports the findings of Dr. Marks’s study. Whelan provides citations of Marks’ article and corroborates Marks’s finding with an additional paper authored by psychologist Stanton L. Jones. - National Review Online : Piece by Ed Whelan (Part 2)
“Exposing the Schlock Social Science on Gay Parenting--Part 2”
http://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/302527/exposing-schlock-social-science-gay-parenting-part-2-ed-whelan
In Part 2 of a 3-part article, Whelan reports the findings of the NFSS. Whelan’s data and terminology are accurate and consistent with the study. Furthermore, his report of the conclusions of the study reflect Dr. Regnerus’s own conclusions. - National Review Online : Piece by Ed Whelan (Part 3)
“Exposing the Schlock Social Science on Gay Parenting--Part 3”
http://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/302620/exposing-schlock-social-science-gay-parenting-part-3-ed-whelan
In Part 3 of a 3-part article, Whelan presents his take on the implications of Dr. Marks's and Dr. Regnerus’s work on the same-sex marriage debate. - Alcalde (Alumni Magazine for UT-Austin) : Piece by Rose Cahalan
“UT Study on Gay Parenting Sparks Controversy”
http://alcalde.texasexes.org/2012/06/ut-study-on-gay-parenting-sparks-controversy/
This is a well-expressed and fair report on what the NFSS does and does not say; its strength lies particularly in the cogent explanation of the intent of the study. - The Foundry : Piece by Christine Kim and Jennifer Marshall
“New Research on Children of Same-Sex Parents Suggests Difference Matter”
http://blog.heritage.org/2012/06/11/new-research-on-children-of-same-sex-parents-suggests-differences-matter/
Kim and Marshall introduce in the works of Dr. Regnerus and Dr. Marks in a manner consistent with the published work of the authors themselves. - National Review Online : Introductory Piece by Maggie Gallagher
“Do Children with Gay Parents Do Just as Well? The New Social-Science Debate”
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/302324/do-children-gay-parents-do-just-well-new-social-science-debate-maggie-gallagher#
Gallagher offers a brief introduction to the new study. - Slate : Critical Response by William Saletan
“Does a new study indict gay parenthood or make a case for gay marriage?”
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/human_nature/2012/06/new_family_structures_study_is_gay_parenthood_bad_or_is_gay_marriage_good_.html
Saletan responds to Dr. Regnerus’s Slate publication. -
Patheos : Blog by Leahlibresco
“And Speaking of Sample Size Problems...”
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/unequallyyoked/2012/06/and-speaking-of-sample-size-problems.html
The former athiest voice on Patheos praises familystructurestudies.com for its upfront presentation of the NFSS data.