Sexual Orientation of Adult Sons of Gay Fathers

J. Michael Bailey; David Bobrow; Marilyn Wolfe; Sarah Mikach

doi:10.1037/0012-1649.31.1.124

Sexual Orientation of Adult Sons of Gay Fathers

J. Michael Bailey^*, David Bobrow, Marilyn Wolfe, Sarah Mikach

^*Corresponding author for this work

Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

155 Scopus citations

Abstract

The sexual development of children of gay and lesbian parents is interesting for both scientific and social reasons. The present study is the largest to date to focus on the sexual orientation of adult sons of gay men. From advertisements in gay publications, 55 gay or bisexual men were recruited who reported on 82 sons at least 17 years of age. More than 90% of sons whose sexual orientations could be rated were heterosexual. Furthermore, gay and heterosexual sons did not differ on potentially relevant variables such as the length of time they had lived with their fathers. Results suggest that any environmental influence of gay fathers on their sons' sexual orientation is not large.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	124-129
Number of pages	6
Journal	Developmental psychology
Volume	31
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.31.1.124
State	Published - Jan 1995

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Demography
Developmental and Educational Psychology
Life-span and Life-course Studies

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N2 - The sexual development of children of gay and lesbian parents is interesting for both scientific and social reasons. The present study is the largest to date to focus on the sexual orientation of adult sons of gay men. From advertisements in gay publications, 55 gay or bisexual men were recruited who reported on 82 sons at least 17 years of age. More than 90% of sons whose sexual orientations could be rated were heterosexual. Furthermore, gay and heterosexual sons did not differ on potentially relevant variables such as the length of time they had lived with their fathers. Results suggest that any environmental influence of gay fathers on their sons' sexual orientation is not large.

AB - The sexual development of children of gay and lesbian parents is interesting for both scientific and social reasons. The present study is the largest to date to focus on the sexual orientation of adult sons of gay men. From advertisements in gay publications, 55 gay or bisexual men were recruited who reported on 82 sons at least 17 years of age. More than 90% of sons whose sexual orientations could be rated were heterosexual. Furthermore, gay and heterosexual sons did not differ on potentially relevant variables such as the length of time they had lived with their fathers. Results suggest that any environmental influence of gay fathers on their sons' sexual orientation is not large.

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Sexual Orientation of Adult Sons of Gay Fathers

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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