Not looking for an argument, just curious of other people's opinions on something a family member is going through. There is someone in my family who is openly gay. She and her life partner have decided they would like children. They'll get a sperm donor so one of them can become pregnant. But they insist that the baby doesn't need a father figure in his/her life. I know them, and I know they have enough love for a housefull of children. I also know they will be wonderful parents. But I wonder if a child will feel like they're missing something with no dad?

That's a tough call. I'm a single mom, but I have heaps of brothers and uncles and you could fall over the boys cousins we have so many.

My son just kind of gravitated to the guys. I think I already knew that I wouldn't have a problem there replacing a male figure.

The family unit now is so different from the traditional ones. Going out on a limb here, but I think that all children need some sort of male in their lives. If there is a big family for the family member then maybe the child will do what my son did and gravitate towards a male figure in the family.

MuseMom

I can't see how there won't be a male figure. Even if the couple feels that they don't need one to the family, they will find that the child wiil find it in a teacher in school. I think they are making more problems for themselves then needs to be.

seeker

I have a cousin who's openly gay. She and her partner currently are raising her sister's 12 year old daughter. A lesbian couple is as capable of loving and raising a child as a straight couple is. Single mom's raise kids all the time and nobody seems to give it a second thought. But there's something about the "two moms" situation that seems to make people uncomfortable. I think if they have the love and the means to care for a child, they should have a child. That goes for anybody... gay or straight.

As for the male figure in their life, if there isn't an uncle or grandfather, or family friend to jump in there if needed, there's always the "Big Brothers" organization. They'll also have friends who have dads and older brothers... there will be men in their life somewhere, I'm sure.