SAME-SEX PARENTING:
Conclusions
Sponsored link.
Conclusions
As is usual with "hot" religious topics, most people can be divided into two
opposing camps: one strongly in favor and the other strongly against. It is
almost useless to attempt to reach a consensus on such a highly polarized
subject. People bring to any discussion on gay and lesbian parenting their
fundamental beliefs:
 |
The author of the Focus on the Family booklet follows the
Evangelical Christian belief system that homosexuality is condemned by
God, is unnatural, is caused by "gender identity and personal
developmental problems", and that homosexuals are highly diseased.
They feel that it is quite acceptable to deny homosexuals the rights and
privileges of being married, adopting children and having access to
artificial insemination. |
|
Gays, lesbians, most researchers into human sexuality and most
mental and physical health professional organizations believe that
homosexuality is a natural sexual expression that is not a mental
disorder, is determined at least to a large degree by one's genetic
makeup. They know that lesbians have the lowest sexually transmitted
disease infection rate of any gender/orientation. Many believe that
homosexuals should have the same rights as all other citizens are
routinely granted. |
We see one common belief shared by many people: that all things being equal,
the best environment for bringing up a child is in a family headed by one woman
and one man. But all things are rarely equal. Studies appear to indicate that
the sexual orientation of the parents have a minor affect on the development of
their children. It would seem that same-sex parents can compensate for the
absence of a father or mother in the family by involving their children with
friends and their extended family. It would seem that the selection of one
parent to have custody of a child after divorce should be made on the basis of
the best arrangement for the child; it should not be routinely given to a
non-homosexual parent.
It would seem that most of the arguments presented by Evangelical Christians
could be easily reworded to prohibit:
|
single parents from retaining custody of their children, |
|
infertile heterosexual couples from marrying |
|
heterosexual couples who plan to remain childless from marrying |
Their arguments seem very similar to those used 30 years ago in support of a
ban on inter-racial marriages. We cannot understand why they believe that a
heterosexual family that raises a child benefits society, whereas a homosexual
family that raises a child does not contribute at all to society. It would seem
that the only difference between the two children is liable to be that the child
raised by gay or lesbian parents is liable to be far less homophobic.
References
-
Judge Kevin Chang's ruling is at http://www.ftm.org/archive/chang-ruling.txt
-
Larry Burtoft, "Setting the Record Straight: What Research Really Says About the
Social Consequences of Homosexuality", Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO,
(1994), pages 74 to 78
-
Alisa Sterkel, "Psychosocial Development of Children of Lesbian Mothers"
Gay & Lesbian Parents 75, 81, Frederick W. Bozett, ed., (1987)
-
Julie Schwartz, "Children of Gay and Lesbian Parents", 14 Marriage and
Family Review 177 (1989)
-
various, "Sexual Orientation and the Law", Harvard Law Review, Harvard
University Press, 1989
-
Pauline Turner et al, "Parenting in Gay and Lesbian Families", 1
Journal of Gay & Lesbian Psychotherapy 55, 57 (1990)
-
G. Dorsey Green Frederick W. Bozett "Lesbian Mothers and Gay Fathers",
in Homosexuality: Research Implications for Public Policy" ed. by Gonsiorek
& Weinrich, Sage Publications (1991)
-
Cheryl L. Meyer, "Legal, Psychological, and Medical Considerations in Lesbian
Parenting," 2 Law & Sexuality: A Review of Lesbian & Gay Legal Issues 237
(1992)
-
Wendell Ricketts, "Lesbians and Gay Men as Foster Parents", University
of Southern Maine, (1992)
Copyright © 1998, 1999
Date of last update: 1999-MAR-25
Author: B.A. Robinson
| |
