Is Same Sex Parenting Wrong?

[naomi24]

There has been a suggestion that same sex parents should be featured in school books, a proposal which has produced conflicting opinions – see AOG’s thread in News, “Should Same-Sex Parents Be Featured In School Books?” Consider this scenario. Two very young children, a boy and a girl, born to a drug addicted wreck of a mother and a drunken, serial criminal father, are thoroughly neglected, and subjected to daily mental and physical abuse. The authorities, quite rightly, remove them from the family home, and the children are subsequently adopted by two gay men - highly successful, wealthy, fine house in the country, apartment in the city – who provide their every need and, most importantly, love them dearly.

I know those children – and they are happy – but of those who say that same sex parenting is wrong, given the opportunity, who would remove them from their new home in favour of subjecting them to a life in care?

[jim360]

For convenience a link to the thread Naomi mentioned. A number of interesting posts in there:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1258390.html

[rockyracoon]

Not me.

[jackthehat]

No.......but then I would say that, wouldn't I? :o)

[rockyracoon]

Just reread your question, I don't think same sex parenting is wrong anyway.

[Octavius]

Is this question just for people who think it IS wrong?

No, it isn't, and no I wouldn't have them removed in the scenario you describe.

[Sharingan]

One would hope no-one, but i'm sure someone with views unchanged since the times of Oliver Cromwell will turn up to say they are being morally abused or some such nonsense. Children need parents who are kind, sensible, loving positive role models who understand the care that a child needs and it doesn't matter whether that is done via a 'conventional family' of genetic mother and father, a step family, a foster family, adoptive family, grandparents, single parents or same sex parents of either gender. It's not what you are it's who you are that makes you a good parent and a loving same sex couple will do a better job than a dysfunctional mixed sex couple every time.

[jd_1984]

In your scenario, a single parent of either sex, grandparents, legal guardians or a same sex couple would be a better bet for those kids!

[ummmm]

How could it possibly be wrong?

The house in the country and apartment in the city are not important. The fact that they love them dearly is.

[naomi24]

Octavius, //Is this question just for people who think it IS wrong? //

That was the intention. Several people, although as far as I can see they've given no rational reason, are in strong opposition to it, so I just wonder what they would prefer to happen to children like these.

[hc4361]

Same sex parenting is nothing new, nor is it wrong.

[Octavius]

You might have had more reaction if they were poor, living on benefits but loved their children very much and scraped by (but in a happy loving home). As Ummm says, the (financial) wealth is (should be) irrelevant.

[naomi24]

Octavius, I'm happy with the responses here - several in about 30 minutes. Ummmm is right. The house etc, is not fundamentally relevant, but I wanted to illustrate the life they have now which bodes well for their prospects for the future - and I've already said that most importantly they are loved dearly.

[Octavius]

Yes its a pretty picture you have painted - the very wealthy male couple with kids is a bit of a stereotype nowadays. Most would find it difficult to justify removing them from that scenario. Only the most hardened anti-same sex advocate would do that, so we'll see if they post.

[naomi24]

I await their thoughts with interest.

[jim360]

There may be a sort of hierarchy of parental relationships, so some people would argue heterosexual couple > single-parent > same-sex couple > care home > anything abusive. The "ranking" I've suggested I don't agree with myself exactly, so this is just speculation. But I think there are some who would argue along these lines: "Well, it's better to be in the care of two people than in a care home, but I still would rather the child ended up with a loving man and woman than two of the same."

As far as I can tell, there is no evidence that this preference has any grounding in fact -- there is no discernible difference between same-sex loving parents and heterosexual loving parents in terms of consequences for the children.

[FredPuli43]

"Better a dry morsel and quiet therewith, than a house full of feasting with strife" [Proverbs 17.1] It cannot matter how poor the household, if it is a loving home for the child. All that wealth brings is that the child can be miserable in comfort.

[rockyracoon]

I've posted this before but I think the anti's should listen to what this young man says, afterall he speaks from experience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMLZO-sObzQ

[naomi24]

Good post Rocky. Well said that man!

[ummmm]

Nice one, Rocky, good for him.

[Snafu03]

This post takes the very worst of conventional parenting and matches it agasints the very best scenario of same sex parenting.

I suppose the question we should be asking should be 'is same sex parenting equal to mixed sex parenting given an even playing field'