Are Kid's in Harm's Way?

The following articles discuss same-sex marriages as well as their ability to raise a family. I chose a range of articles and ideas and expanded the subject. I am pleased with what I found and this is a subject that I would normally argue against. I provided a summary of each article and then responded with my personal thoughts. It is a topic that intrigues me and is something I think is important to society today.



Title: “Panel supports gay parents: Experts speak out ahead of same-sex marriage trial.”
Author: Kelly Brewington
December 1, 2006
The Baltimore Sun

This article is in support of gay couples having and raising children. The setting of this argument is in Maryland and “a group of sociologists, psychologists and child-welfare advocates spoke out in support of same sex marriage (pg.1).” It was stated that they based their “support on years of scientific research concluding that gays and lesbians can be as effective parents as heterosexuals and that the children of gay parents develop just as well as children of opposite-sex couples (pg.1).”
When I read this article I felt somewhat disturb because of my religious beliefs. I am an Irish Catholic and I have been raised with the idea that it is wrong for gay couples to marry, nerveless be parents. However, as time are constantly changing, I do not have or see a problem with gay couples getting married but I still believe they should not be parents because I feel it is unnatural and unhealthy. I find the author to be very trust worthy and cited credible sources.




Title: “Pediatricians’ Study Shows Kids Not Harmed by Gay Parent.”
Author: Beth Ross River Falls
September 2, 2006
The Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin)

A study was conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics and was referred to in this article. The study published showed kids were indeed not harmed by gay parents. “There is ample evidence to show that children raised by same-gender parents fare as well as those raised by heterosexual parents. More than 25 years of research have documented that there is no relationship between parent’s sexual orientation and any measure of a child’s emotional, psychosocial and behavioral adjustment. These data have demonstrated no risk to children as a result of growing up in a family with one or more gay parents (pg.1).”
This study is very credible in my opinion because it states in the article that the American Academy of Pediatrics has a membership of 60,000 physicians and “it is the largest and most influential professional organization for pediatricians in the United States (pg.1).” The author was thorough and referred to the article, concluding that kids are not affected by having same sex parents. Similar to the previous article I read, I disagree that same sex couples should raise children. I have personally seen the affects so that along with my religious beliefs, I still disagree with the study. It is eye opening and something I am willing to learn about but do not see my opinion changing quickly.






Title: Protect Our Children by Voting ‘No’
Author: Lana A. Whited
November 4, 2006
The Roanoke Times (Virginia)

This article was published during a campaign in the state of Virginia. It addresses the proposal of same sex marriages and argues how it will hurt the children of Virginia. The amendment is made up of three parts. It says “the commonwealth shouldn’t recognize a marriage unless the participants are a man and a woman (pg.1).” It goes onto say “its agencies can’t treat anyone who isn’t legally married as though he or she has the same rights as married people (pg.1).” Another key element to this article states, “ many Virginians are kind, fair-minded people who don’t discriminate where these rights are concerned, even though they would be legally justified in doing so (pg.1).”
This campaign was an interesting read to me because it addressed the other side on the issue of same sex marriages and having children. I agree with the issue that is being presented and felt that the point was made without coming off too strong. In terms of credibility it is important to keep in mind that it is a campaign ad and that it is known that campaigns can often spin a topic in order to gain votes. However, this article is different because it states what Virginia law is as well as what the changes would be.



Title: Lesbians of Mass Destruction
Author: William Saletan
December 23, 2006
Washington Post

This article was written in response to Dick Cheney and his daughter announcing that she is going to have a baby with her partner. At times it takes stabs at Dick Cheney as well as the Republican party but it does contain some interesting facts and statistics. It states, “The American Psychological Association has complied abstracts of 67 strides. Yet study after study, on measure after measure, kids turn out the same (pg.1).” The article also looks into the evidence “against gay parenthood (pg.1).” The conservative argument reads, “on average, children do best when raised by their two married, biological parents (pg.1).”
I believe this article was well written and address both sides of the argument. It contained facts and provided the reader both sides of the argument. Yes, it did take jabs but most articles do. As I have stated about the other articles I have read, I am still in agreement with the conservative Republican party. Reading about the study was interesting but I do not feel it is in-depth enough to have a sustainable argument.




Title: What Makes a Private School ‘Gay’ Friendly’
Author: Gabrielle Brinker
November 15, 2006
The New York Sun

I selected this article because I myself attended a private school that tried to promote an atmosphere that welcomed all diversities and religious beliefs as well as sexual orientation. The article focuses on The Greenwich Village academy, a rival school of mine, and interviews a teacher by the name of Philip Kassen. “The most important thing is that the faculty is trained to be sensitive to the needs and the lives of all students and the curriculum materials should reflect that (pg.1).” It is also stated that, “Parent-faculty organizations open to gay and lesbian participation, and a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination and bullying, are also essential (pg.1).”
This article provides the insight of private schools, like mine, and are eye opening to those to choose to read it. Even though I am a person who is against this lifestyle, I was in an environment that promoted everyone being equal and that we could learn from one another. My beliefs have no changed but I do not hold any hatred or anger. I choose this article because it took a different perspective on the issue and I hope if people choose to read it, they will have similar feelings.

Changes in American families

The debate surrounding the contemporary changes in American families was discussed in three articles that I read. The first article by David Popenoe introduces the idea of change in American families and states, “it is argued that families have lost functions, power, and authority, that familism as a cultural value has diminished, and that people have become less willing to invest time, money, and energy in family life, turning instead to investments in themselves (pg.527).” Popenoe see the family as an “institution in decline and believe that this should be a cause for alarm – especially as regards the consequences for children (pg.527).” Popenoe indicates that trends such as rising divorce and families having less children are key elements that are causing change. The fact that families are now having less children have been a cause for study for many people. Also, the idea that marriage is being put off and that men and women are getting married later and with divorce rates on the high, Popenoe sees this are a point of concern.
Stacy takes a different approach than Popenoe. Stacy states that Popenoe and herself agree that ‘the family’ is in decline but hold different ideas as to why. Stacy believes that Popenoe “struggles, with little consistency or success, to expand the conventional structural-functional definition of the nuclear family to accommodate critiques made by feminists and gay liberationists of the gender and sexual oppression in that family form (pg.545).” Stacy in contrast believes that there is no positivist definition of the family. She goes onto say that Popenoe has three systematic errors. The first being his “latter-day coda of tired ‘loss of family functions’ lament rests upon a flawed history and anthropology of kinship (pg.546).” Stacy feels it is anthropologically incorrect. Second, Stacy states Popenoe’s more proximate historical framework is equally flawed. Third, Stacy believes Popenoe offers an incomplete assessment of different views. However, Stacy does agree with Popenoe that women’s ability to ‘survive’ outside marriage have been a key factor.
Philip Cowan agrees with Popenoe that there should be concern. Cowan states, “I believe that he could make an even stronger case for concern if he ventured beyond his focus on the family as in institution and examined in more detail the widespread incidence of violence, drug abuse, mental illness, general emotional dysregulation and loneliness that constitute the daily lives of too many adults and children in contemporary American families (pg.548).” Cowan agrees with other critics by saying Popenoe’s arguments were awry but overall believes in his point.
I disagree with Popenoe’s argument that the family is in decline. I believe today families have more pride and unity and although they are structurally different and the term family now is broader and accepted, society uses families as its core. Yes, divorce may be on the incline and men and women are waiting to get married but I believe this does not necessary mean family is on the decline. If anything, I argue that it is expanding families because more and more divorces men and women are getting re-married and starting ‘new’ families, hence, expanding what they have already started. The family has changed with the times. Society is now a lot more fast paced and more complicated than in the 1940’s and 1950’s and it is important to realize and understand all of the changes that have occurred between then and now. The family is not on the decline, it just needs to be reaccepted because times have and still are changing.