Think of the Children!

Over and over again, I have seen the idea that while willing, consenting adults are permitted to participate in any sort of "alternative" lifestyle imaginable, children should not be subjected to it.

For example, children should not be adopted by gay couples, or had by lesbians, because they will grow up "confused." Apparently, without one parent of each gender, children will automatically grow up well... into homosexuals. (Because we all know no one with heterosexual parents ever grew up gay.)

Or perhaps, if there are three, four, or more adults in a polyamorous relationship, they shouldn't dare raise children in that environment. Isn't it obvious that children who had grandparents, aunts or uncles, frequently helping the parents raise the kids are going to grow up "confused" as to who their real parents are? After all, it would be cruel for a kid to have more than two family members looking after them.

Or maybe, there's a seemingly normal two-parent family, but the parents just happen to believe in some non-mainstream nature-worshipping Pagan religion; or worse, not believe in any religion at all and are atheists. Under no circumstances should those parents expose their children to their unorthodox beliefs, because all Children should be raised as Christians, no matter the beliefs of the parents.

Yes, implicit in all of these arguments, is the belief that every child should be raised as a straight, conservative Christian, no matter the beliefs of their parents. Those are irrelivant and should never under any circumstances be passed on to their children.

In case you didn't get the idea alrady, I find this highly offensive. It's not as if conservative two-parent families are always perfect. Far from it. Examples of child abuse by straight, conservative Christian parents can always be found. It's also not as if children raised by straight conservative Christian parents always grow up sharing their values. any gay, lesbian, polyamorous, Neopagan, or atheist folks had their roots in conservative families. (Though there are no hard and fast numbers, such things have happened and are happening this very moment.)

Let's for a moment, strip away the complicated words and deceptive terminology and see what we're talking about in words the children themselves might understand...

Children shouldn't be taught men can love other men, and women can love other women. (We should hate those who love the wrong way!)

Children shouldn't be taught to love nature. (We should hate wilderness!)

Children shouldn't be taught to think for themselves. (Scientists and professors are bad people!)

And children shouldn't be taught they can love more than one person. (We should hate those who love too much!)

Just think of what a horrible world we would have if the next generation grew up believing in those terrible ideas!

Gay Marriage In Iowa

Here's a bit of good news. In a move similar to California's supreme court, Iowa's supreme court legalized gay marriage.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090403/ap_on_re_us/iowa_gay_marriage

Even better: unlike California it's not going to be overturned by consitutional amendment anytime soon.

"Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, a Democrat, said state lawmakers were unlikely to consider gay marriage legislation in this legislative session, which is expected to end within weeks. Gronstal also said he's "not inclined" to propose a constitutional amendment during next year's session."

I was left scratching my head how such a conservative state would do something so progressive, but the article also explains that "Iowa has a history of being in the forefront on social issues. It was among the first states to legalize interracial marriage and to allow married women to own property. It was also the first state to admit a woman to the bar to practice law and was a leader in school desegregation."

Strategy

For two weeks now, the entire gay community has been mobilized against the passage of anti-gay measures in several states, Poposition 8 in California in particular.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/16/us/16protest.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&bl&ei=5087&en=719e1c29c315aea6&ex=1226984400

Great idea... except it's already passed! Much as it pains me to admit it, the fight's done and lost. Time to start thinking about the next one. And with that in mind, I have a little advice to any and all members of the gay community who may chance upon this... so listen up!

Why didn't you think of this sooner? Why weren't you holding these rallies in the two weeks before the vote on Nov 4th? It's entirely possible that if you had made this much noise before the vote, you just might have been able to sway enough people to your side to make Prop 8 fail! Next time there's a vote on gay issues anywhere in the country, think about how awful it feels right now to have your rights taken away from you, before the vote, and get out there it when it stands a chance of doing some good!