A surge in same-sex parenting

According to data released Wednesday by the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of reported same-sex parents increased significantly in the decade 2000-2010.

The Charleston SC Post-Courier writes:

From 2000 to 2010, reported male couples in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties jumped by nearly 40 percent, to 859. Female couples in those counties rose by 58 percent, to 1,010; and unmarried heterosexual couples living together increased by 64 percent.

Husband-wife households increased less than 17 percent, trailing the area’s overall population increase.

Eric and Jeremy Hadley say their family values are about as mainstream as they can get. They both grew up on farms. Both were raised in Christian families. Today, Eric is senior warden at St. Stephens Episcopal Church.

“Neither of us are activist types; we don’t have a point to prove,” Jeremy Hadley said. “So … we’ve insulated ourselves.”

Raising two young daughters — Edith Rose is 2, Martha Elizabeth is 3 months — was a natural choice, they said.

“The most important thing children can have is a loving home environment,” Eric Hadley said. “In this day and age, adoption is becoming more and more common, and so is same-sex marriage.”

As the kids grow they will surely encounter other adopted children, and other gay couples, he said. “I think this generation and future generations are going to be more mature in thought.”

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