AUSTIN, Texas (WordNews.org) – A new University of Texas study finds incidents of pedophilia and rape are higher in households headed by same-sex couples.

The study was authored by Associate Professor Mark Regnerus from the University of Texas. His findings include:

• Parental pedophilia is widespread: 23 percent of children with a lesbian mother reported having been touched sexually by a parent or adult, compared to 2 percent of those raised by biological parents.

• 31 percent of children raised by a lesbian mother and 25 percent raised by a homosexual man report that they were forced to have sex against their will, compared to 8 percent from families headed by a man and a woman.

• More than 20 percent of those brought up by two women and 25 percent raised by two men reported having contracted an STD, compared to 8 percent from natural families.

• 24 percent of children raised by homosexual men and 12 percent of children raised by lesbian mothers admitted to having recently contemplated suicide, compared to 5 percent of those raised by biological parents or even a single parent.

To read the study

Published in the journal Social Science Research, the study of nearly 3,000 young adults. Regnerus collected the data from a random sample of young adults. Other studies have based their findings on nonrandom, nonrepresentative data from small samples recruited at lesbian events, bookstores, or in lesbian newspapers.

“The study proves what we have known all along – that children fare better when raised by their biological mom and dad,” said Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “We should be passing laws that strengthen the family, not tear it down. Children raised in homes where homosexuality or other same-sex behaviors are present face increased risks.”