Our family values are a mom and dad rearing the children". Despite the shallow views of most politicians that a family should consist of a mother and father, in this century the definition has widened. Former first lady, Hillary Clinton supports the changing of the traditional family. In an interview she expresses, " The essential ingredient in shaping our later lives is our family, no matter what the unit looks like". Today gay and lesbian parents are more willing to come out and experience parenthood. "There decisions are rooted in the same motives of straight men and women", asserts author Pollack. Despite the hardships they have faced in the past, gay parents have prove that they are capable of raising a family without influencing the child's behavior. Gay parent is now a dominant part of today's society. There are many parents who have successfully raised a family. In one case study, a young man named Chip Speaks quotes, "If I could change my dad and make him straight, I would not do it Being exposed to the straight world and gay world has equally balanced me out more than other people I know" (qtd in Barret and Robinson). .
One of the primary concerns with gay parenting is the social and mental development of the child. Children who live in gay households do not have problems with social or mental development as a result of their parent's homosexuality. Their social life is just as simple as other children. In Fitzgerald's article, she describes studies in which researchers found the children of lesbian mothers to posses a more lovable self-image. Both parents and teachers describe the children as more affectionate, responsive, and protective of younger children (66.) Thus, having gay parents does not affect the psychological and social development of a child. Instead it can allow a child to develop outstanding social skills. A study conducted on the psychological development of children 4-9 years of age, results scored within normal ranges and did not differ from children of heterosexual parents (Fitzgerald 67).