Study defends pay parents.

Florida's continued ban on gay adoptious notwithstanding, a new survey suggests that gay parenting might be just as good--if not better, in some ways--than straight parenting. A survey sampled highly educated lesbian and gay parents in 34 states and found two important indicators of greater parenting skills: They are more likely to talk about sex with their children and less likely to spank them than straight parents.

"We found these parents quite prepared for parenting," says survey author Suzanne Johnson, a psychologist and Dowling College (N.Y.) professor, "and they received more support from friends, family, and schools than we imagined going in." Living their lives as openly gay people also "teaches their kids greater tolerance for difference," she added.