Does it really matter who raises a child?

 

 

    I think that my head might just explode with this question. In 2005 the American Psychological Association (APA) presented to the Supreme court: "Not a single study has found children of lesbian or gay parents to be disadvantaged in any significant respect relative to children of heterosexual parents." 

Sadly, the studies that were used to come to this conclusion are flawed in so many aspects that we really do not know the true answer. One would think that if you are going to redefine what marriage is you would need to take into consideration the affects it has on children. In my opinion before making such a critical decision you would need a longitudinal study, at a minimum I would think it would take twenty-five years and then continued follow-up research in order to get a complete picture of the affects homosexual parents have on children, if there are any affects.

Redefining marriage is not something to take lightly.  Marriage between a man and woman has been the norm for thousands of years, with deep religious roots in societies, and civilizations throughout the world.  Anything other than a marriage between a man and woman would have been considered aberrant.

The reason my head my explode: The decision to change the definition of marriage should not be taken lightly and without strong evidence that doing so will not have an affect first and foremost on children, then societies and civilizations.  We know from years and years of studies the benefits of the nuclear family.

The studies that were presented to the Supreme Court to change the definition of marriage were not relevant to the affects that homosexual parents have on children. Most of the studies were small, they did not compare Gay men parenting, Lesbian women parenting against the standard which is a man and woman married parenting. There have been many valid studies done on single parent homes, two parent homes, divorced and remarried homes, and parents of adoptive children.  Why on earth would the highest court in the nation not take a serious look at the studies that were presented to them and see that more research needed to be done.

Ask the right questions: How does being a homosexual parent affect children when it comes to education, mental well-being, illicit drug use, tobacco use, alcohol use, pre-marital sex, depression, anxiety, suicide rates, number of sexual partners, sexual orientation.  All these questions have concrete answers, and these answers have an affect on individuals, families, societies, and world civilizations.

Some reading this might say that I am bias because of my conservative religious upbringing. And they might be right, however I would maintain that getting the correct information about homosexual parenting deserves unbiased studies.  Sadly, this will never happen.  To bring up the topic of homosexual parenting and that there might be something wrong with it would bring the condemnation of every pro-gay activist group out there.  And I basically do not have the energy to fight them all.

There are somethings that I know to be true. Family is ordained of God. Marriage between a man and a woman is essential to His eternal plan (Family, A Proclamation to the world 1995) https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/the-family-a-proclamation-to-the-world/the-family-a-proclamation-to-the-world?lang=eng  I feel this with every fiber of my being. 

In my short 53 years on earth I can see how families have changed, the view of marriage has changed, sexual relations outside the bonds of marriage has changed. Our societies are not getting better they are getting worse.  I think the breakdown in all its foams, of the nuclear family has eroded people and in turn society.

Can you imagine a different world where moms and dads love each other, and they love their children? The husband and wife work together, each with their own unique talents and abilities to raise children who treat others with kindness and respect. Children have the unwavering support and protection of their parents.  Can you picture in your mind how this would change the societies of the world?