Final answer:
Research has consistently shown that the sexual orientation of children raised by lesbian or gay parents tends to be heterosexual, similar to children raised by heterosexual parents, and is not significantly influenced by their parents' orientation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement posed in the question, "the sexual orientation of lesbian and gay parents' children is generally heterosexual," is true. It is a common misunderstanding that the sexual orientation of children is significantly influenced by the sexual orientation of their parents. This belief has been debunked by sociological research, exemplified by the analysis of 81 parenting studies conducted by Biblarz and Stacey (2010), which found no quantifiable evidence to suggest that opposite-sex parenting is superior to same-sex parenting in determining the sexual orientation of children. Furthermore, the majority of research to date has shown that children of lesbian and gay parents tend to grow up to be heterosexual, indicating that parental sexual orientation does not dictate the sexual orientation of their offspring.
Sexual orientation is widely understood to be a complex interplay of genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural forces, as pointed out by the American Psychological Association (APA). The process of understanding and accepting one's sexual orientation can be deeply personal and influenced by various factors, but research indicates that the family environment in terms of the sexual orientation of parents has little to no effect on the sexual orientation of children. Thus, children raised in households with lesbian or gay parents have similar patterns of sexual orientation development as those with heterosexual parents.