Sorry, "Family Values" Anti-Gay Types: Gay Parents Are Just As Boring As Straight Parents
Jonathan Saenz of Texas Values waxed on about the supposed horrible effects of gay marriage during an interview with Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council. These are clearly two people who have never met any gay parents. I know a few, and they are as dull as straight parents, spending their time mulling over how to get the kid into the right preschool, blah, blah, blah.
But here are Saenz and Perkins on the fate of gay relationships -- which sounds to me (and probably anybody who's been awake for the last 20 years) like the fate of a lot of relationships, and not just the gay ones. From RightWingWatch:
"Not only does it destroy the definition of marriage, it perverts the word love," Perkins said of same-sex marriage. "It becomes nothing more than a sexual act or a physical act of intimacy. Because you could say two brothers love each other, two sisters love each other, an aunt and an uncle love each other, different folks that may not be able to be married could love each other, so if you change this definition, what's to keep them from entering into some kind of contractual relationship as well? It's absurd."Saenz agreed: "They're not really interested in equality, the homosexual advocates, they just want what they think they can get and what works best for their selfish interests.... They know that the majority of people do not support them because it breaks apart."
In my friend group, I know all kinds. People raised all over the world, in the context of various religions, by a spectrum of family types (including two people raised by two moms, and one raised by two dads).
We're all in our 20s and 30s now, and, when I look at how we all turned out, the kids who managed to finish school, stay out of jail, become self-supporting, have successful careers, and have healthy adult relationships have just ONE thing in common (and it's not "having a mom and dad"):
Their parents all raised them in a stable environment that encouraged success and independence. They had a regular home (apartment, condo, whatever) that they could come home to every day, a quiet environment to do homework in, and the ability to get a good night's sleep -- and very predictable, swift and fair consequences for bad behavior.
I was also talking about this with my teacher friend. She said there is one more thing all good parents have in common: They come to parent-teacher conferences. She's been teaching for 11 years, and she's found that, across the diverse families of her children (two-parent households, single-parent households and same-sex-parent households), the parents' willingness to communicate with their teachers drives their kids' future success like nothing else.
sofar at February 21, 2014 8:04 AM
These are clearly two people who have never met any gay parents.
These are clearly two people who spend a lot of time talking about homosexuality, because it makes money for them.
Kevin at February 21, 2014 8:35 AM
"These are clearly two people who have never met any gay parents. "
In all honesty, I don't think I have either. Anyone have stats on how common it is.
Joe J at February 21, 2014 9:23 AM
Gay parents are common. I live in the red state of Arkansas, and I know several!
DP at February 21, 2014 12:17 PM
I have two gay dads.
Let me put it into perspective for you guys on how horrible it was growing up.
At 5 years old I had to wear 4 inch Louboutins because my parents said "no respectable person wears kitten heels." I could only listen to Madonna when I wanted classical music. I had to wear hair extensions as a baby because one dad was a hair stylist and he didn't want "no bald headed foolishness."
As a teen every weekend I had to go clubbing and dancing at raves. My parents told me to have as many random sexual encounters as possible -actively encouraging me to hook up in bathroom stalls.
Yes they paid for college but only on the condition I become a drama major.
Ppen at February 21, 2014 12:21 PM
"Gay parents are common."
Yes, and more often than not they are in heterosexual marriages.
Jim at February 21, 2014 12:34 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2014/02/21/sorry_family_va.html#comment-4275778">comment from PpenPpen, I just love the hell out of you.
Amy Alkon at February 21, 2014 12:35 PM
Ppen - just when I thought I could not possibly love you more. :)
Michelle at February 21, 2014 12:54 PM
...please pardon awkward cross-posting timing on my part...
Michelle at February 21, 2014 9:40 PM
Sorry, "Family Values" Anti-Gay Types: Gay Parents Are Just As Boring As Straight Parents
Yeah, I can see that. I've watched a few episodes of Modern Family, and the gay couple are about as boring as the rest of the characters.
mpetrie98 at February 23, 2014 10:08 AM
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