Rodney Croome . gay advocate

Skewing the data

This analysis of statistics distorted and misused by the Fatherhood Foundation was written by WA LGBT human rights advocate, Rod Swift, on 28.11.08.

There are a number of people claiming that the Marsh/Williams document is 'evidence-based'. While this document “seems” to have nearly 200 references
quoted, what the document claims that research says is not all it seems. For example, I have found evidence of clear misrepresentations or scientific errors in two of the references in that document.

For example, the Gender Matters document says the study by R. Green, et.al., "Lesbian Mothers and Their children: A Comparison with Solo Parent Heterosexual Mothers and Their Children," Archives of Sexual Behaviour 15, 1986, pp. 167-184, apparently claims to show "...developmentally important statistically significant differences between children reared by homosexual parents compared to heterosexual parents."

But does that study actually say that? Well, no! Indeed, the abstract summary of that study, which can be found online at http://www.springerlink.com/content/q1xu25071243162j/ says in fact the opposite:

"No significant differences were found between the two types of households for boys and few significant differences for girls. Concerns that being raised by a homosexual mother might produce sexual identity conflict and peer group stigmatization were not supported by the research findings. Data also revealed more similarities than differences in parenting experiences, marital history, and present living situations of the two groups of mothers. The postulated compromised parental fitness of lesbian mothers, commonly asserted in child custody cases, is not supported by these data."

So, it appears that the Gender Matters document clearly misquotes and skews data, or claims that research says certain things, when it doesn't. The Green study says that the children of lesbians are just fine, thanks very much. So how could they get it so wrong? One might want to ask Mr Marsh how?

Secondly, though, the study cites at least one deceptive study by anti-gay 'researcher' Paul Cameron, which has been thoroughly disproven. The Gender Matters document claims the study "Federal Distortion of The Homosexual Footprint" is evidence that homosexuals die at an average age two decades younger than heterosexuals.

However, Mr Cameron (a proven distorter of statistics) has had two studies on mortality of gay men invalidated due to basic and fundamental statistical errors. For example, see these sites: http://www.drthrockmorton.com/article.asp?id=202 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/Articles/000,018.htm

The facts of the matter are is that there is a more balanced and independent viewpoint on the efficacy of gay and lesbian parenting from reputable sources. The Gender Matters document cited one (and distorted it to claim the opposite), but a full narrative is available from the peak psychological bodies -- for example: http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/lgparenting.pdf

When people claim that the Gender Matters document is 'evidence-based' and 'accurate', it is clear they haven't gone and checked whether the citations are accurate, merely thought that it looks evidence-based or authoritative.