Subj:  Feb 1993 Fact Sheet             93-04-23 01:52:47 EDT
From:  NGLTF

FAMILIES  BACKGROUND:

Throughout the 1992 elections and in the recent past, the term "traditional
family values" has been bandied about without a specific definition of who this
term means and who  it expressly excludes.  Former President George Bush stated
that he "can't accept as normal lifestyle people of the same sex being
parents...I don't accept that as normal" and added that he believes in
"traditional family values."  From a gay and lesbian perspective, there are at
least three problems with this phrase: first, the traditional family is a
statistical myth and does not reflect the reality of families in this country;
second, the term fails to incorporate the existence of loving and strong
families created by gay and lesbian parents and couples; and third the term  is
wrongly presented as a flat contradiction to gay and lesbian civil rights. 

>> Today, only one in four U.S. families is a "nuclear" family, with two
married parents and one or more children. (U.S. Census Bureau Household
Information Survey, 1990)
 
>> Only nine percent of U.S. families consist of one homemaker parent and one
parent who works outside the home, with children. (U.S. Census Bureau Household
Information Survey, 1990)   

>> More than 90 percent of American families therefore live in single-parent or
extended families, intergenerational families, blended, adopted or foster
families, same-sex or dual-income families, and many other hybrids of loving
and social connections.

>> A 1989 poll showed that of 1000 Americans surveyed, 54 percent believed that
gay and lesbian couples should be permitted to receive medical and life
insurance benefits from a partner's coverage.  Sixty-five percent believe that
gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to inherit each other's property. 
(Time-CNN poll, 1989)

>> In a survey of 1200 people conducted in 1989, 74 percent of the respondents
defined family as "a group who love and care for each other."  The survey
offered three definition choices, including other, more legalistic definitions.
( Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company "American Family Values Study,"
1989)

>> There are currently four to five million lesbian and gay parents in this
country who face legal obstacles to creating and nurturing their families.
(National Center for Lesbian Rights) 


DOMESTIC  PARTNERSHIP:

In most workplace situations, employee benefits packages or "fringe" benefits
comprise as much as 40 percent of a worker's total compensation.  Marital
status most often determines an employee's eligibility for entitlements such as
sick, bereavement or parenting leave, health and dental insurance, disability
and retirement benefits, family assistance and discount buying privileges.

>> Twenty-five jurisdictions currently recognize some form of domestic
partnership, offering either partner registries, health insurance coverage,
hospital visitation rights, sick leave..

>> At least 20 private-sector companies and organizations recognize domestic
partners in employee or member health benefit plans.

>> Many unions have negotiated contracts for their members that include
domestic partner or alternative family benefits, primarily in the form of
bereavement, sick and parenting leave.
(Source: "Domestic Partnership Organizing Manual" NGLTF Policy Institute, 1992)

FOSTER  AND  ADOPTIVE  PARENTING:

Many lesbians and gay men are extremely qualified to be adoptive or foster
parents and would provide very suitable, nurturing home lives.  However, most
states prohibit or discourage adoption by gay people.  

>> Two states, Florida and New Hampshire, have laws expressly prohibiting
lesbians and gay men from adopting children.  

>> New Hampshire also bars lesbians and gay men from becoming foster parents.

>> While a few states and the District of Columbia have allowed joint adoption
by lesbian or gay couples, most adoptions by couples are listed on the record
as single parent adoptions.

CHILD  CUSTODY  AND  VISITATION:

The conflict over child custody and visitation brings more lesbians and gay men
into courtrooms in this nation than any other issue.  Decisions on custody and
visitation are made on a state-by-state, judge-by-judge basis.  

>> Eleven states have laws that say sexual orientation is irrelevant in custody
disputes

>> Courts in eleven other states have based rulings on the presumption that
lesbians and gay men are unfit for custody of their children solely on the
basis of sexual orientation.

>> Trial courts in Nevada, Virginia and Kentucky have ruled that homosexuality
in and of itself renders a parent unfit to have custody of his or her child.

>> In appellate courts of other states (California, Indiana, Massachusetts and
Arkansas) homosexuality is not grounds for depriving parents custody of their
children.

>> Studies show that there is no correlation between a parent's sexual
orientation and that of the child.  The incidence of same-sex orientation among
children of homosexuals occurs as frequently and in the same proportion as in
the general population.

(Source: "Domestic Partnership Organizing Manual," NGLTF Policy Institute,
1992;  "Preserving and Protecting the Families of Lesbians and Gay Men,"
National Center for Lesbian Rights, 1986)The Lesbian and Gay Families Project
of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute works to secure
legal recognition and protection for gay families, including domestic
partnership,  foster parenting and other  rights.   

For further information, call (202) 332-6483.

Copyright 1993 NGLTF Policy Institute