---
title: "Fewer Americans have negative views of more gays raising children"
description: "Currently, 35% of Americans say the increase in gay and lesbian couples raising children is a bad thing, a decline from recent years."
date: "2013-06-25"
authors:
  - name: "Bruce Drake"
    job_title: "Former Senior Editor"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/bruce-drake/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/06/25/fewer-americans-have-negative-views-of-more-gays-raising-children/"
categories:
  - "Household Structure & Family Roles"
  - "LGBTQ Acceptance"
  - "Parenthood"
  - "Same-Sex Marriage"
  - "Same-Sex Marriage"
---

# Fewer Americans have negative views of more gays raising children

In recent years, there has been a decline in the percentage of Americans who think that more gays and lesbians raising children is a bad thing for American society.

Currently, 35% view this as a negative trend for society. While that is unchanged from 2011, it represents a 15-point decline since 2007 (from 50%), according to a separate survey, conducted March 21-April 8 among 4,006 adults.

[![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2013/06/DN_Gays_Children.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/06/06/section-2-views-of-gay-men-and-lesbians-roots-of-homosexuality-personal-contact-with-gays/#raise-children)

Over this period, the percentage saying more gays and lesbians raising children is a good thing has nearly doubled, from 11% to 21%. About four-in-ten (41%) say more gays and lesbians raising children does not make much difference.

The public also takes a more positive view of another social trend – more people of different races marrying each other. Currently, 37% say this is a good thing for American society, up from 25% in 2011 and 24% in 2010. About half (51%) say more interracial marriage does not make much difference, compared with 64% in 2011 and 61% in 2010. About one-in-ten (10%) continue to view this as a negative trend for American society. [Read more](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/06/06/section-2-views-of-gay-men-and-lesbians-roots-of-homosexuality-personal-contact-with-gays/#raise-children)