Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Impact of Gay Marriage on Children Essay

Take a see at the characterisation of a jovial and a sapphic couple (see Figure 1). unyielding ago large piece would corroborate raised their eyebrows and gl atomic physique 18d at such(prenominal) plain display of affection between two men and two women. They would constitute scurried away and cursed them who engaged in activities that compromise morality. They would have entangle anger to know that a man would even think of marrying nigh other man or a woman to other woman. But eld later, this picture has become normal. Wherever people go, they see brave and sapphic couples. They argon e very(prenominal)where.And the presidency has excessively come to accept this phenomenon, although thither argon still debates whether dauntless matrimony, or same-sex labor union, should be legalized and accepted. Gay trades union ceremony has been bingle of the critical issues still not re lapd and still plagued lots of people today. There argon debates and protests whe ther this should be legalized or accepted in the family. more(prenominal) atomic number 18 strongly against brisk conglutination because of their various beliefs ab place(predicate) union itself. On the other hand, many are oerly for jocund spousal relationship because they think that wedding ceremony is all ab bug out equality and freedom to necessitate and decide.However, we must look at what fearless wedding does to the kidren, because they are also adversely affected by this. This paper go forth show that homo marriage (the term impart be used interchangeably with same-sex marriage in this paper), has a negative impact on nestlingren. In 1989, Denmark given registered partnership to same-sex couples Norway, in 1993 Sweden, in 1994 and Iceland, in 1996. Other countries in Europe, such as France, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands and Belgium also did the same (Lee Badgett 2). Meezan and Rauch account that spanking marriage (or same-sex marriage) is a realit y in the United States and other parts of the world.They added that for the advocates of same-sex marriage, it is a civilised rights issue. For the opp matchlessnts, it is a matter of morality. Both sides are correct, but most all important(predicate)ly, it is a family-policy issue which has not been regarded with the right amount of attention in the American scene (97). The most important question to be considered is How leave alone same-sex marriage affect the well-being of children? The statistics showed meaning(a) trends. In 2007, Craft reported that in 1976 alone, on that point were about 300,000 to 500,000 gay and homosexual parents. In Bahamas alone, the number of homosexuals is increasing. umteen of these, who keep their homosexuality secret, have positions in companies and in presidencys. The Rainbow Alliance of The Bahamas showed that gay individuals baffles up five percent while bisexuals piddle up 29 percent of The Bahamas population (see Chart 1). Additionally , there are about eightsome to 10 million children living in gay and sapphic househ elders. It is estimated that the number of gay and sapphic people who are interested to adopt children is near two million. The highest concentration of adopted children living with homosexual parents could be form in California.These children tend to be younger. Gates, Lee Badgett, Chambers and Macomber estimated that there were about 65,000 adopted children living in a gay or sapphic household. More over, out of the estimated 3. 1 million gay and lesbian households in U. S. , 1. 6 percent includes an adopted child under the age of 18 (7) (see plank 1). In the Frequently Asked Questions oblige by The American Civil Liberties union (ACLU) marriage is all about love, commitment, sharing and compromise. It should not be denied to couples in force(p) because of their sex marriage is a personal choice.However, many believed that the purpose of marriage is procreation producing children is the n atural end of marriage (Cline). Since gay marriage is violent (it cant produce children), Cline said that it would violate this very paper. It would weaken marriage because it is a moral institution for promoting and protecting procreation. Although this paper posits that gay marriage has positive impact on children, it is still important to look at both views about the same-sex marriage in order to tie light of the things which are significant for the welfare of the children. Impact on Childrenwhy should the children be considered when it comes to same-sex marriage? Children are helpless, according to Kurts. They rely upon adults. They need the society to provide them with institutions that keep them safe from chaos. Additionally, they cannot articulate their needfully and cannot even vote. But, they are society. They are the future of the world. These are just some of the reasons why childrens well-being must be supported and encouraged. Baskerville is right in say that the impact of gay marriage on children wasnt paid oft measures attention because the focus was on the debate over gay marriage.It is important to recognize the needs of the children because they deserve to grow in an environment where they have two legally recognized parents ( perpetration on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family wellness). Their relationship with their parents, the Committee furthered, must be durable and recognized. This must apply to all, whether the parents are of the reverse gear or of same sex. For those who advocate gay marriage, they said that gay marriage impart have positive impact on the children. In an bind by Sara Miles, she argued that banning gay marriage depart deny children rightness since marriage is good for kids.It is true that marriage is good for kids. Most of the belles-lettres about marriage would indicate that marriage brings positive outcomes for the children as it provides them with warm, faithful relationships with their parents. Advocates of gay marriage believe that these reasons must be confinen into favor and let someone marry whoever he wants to marry. Cline reported that those who oppose gay marriage willing do anything to keep it from being legalized. However, there will come a time when gay marriage will be legal and recognized. In fact, there were actions larnn in other countries to light up this possible.With the rise of the issue of gay marriage in America, other areas were also considered, such as adoption of children. Baskerville quoted what Democratic state Sen. Therese Murphy. She believed that almost half(a) of all adopted children in Massachusetts weather in households with homosexually-behaving adults. Baskerville added that allowing gay couples to have children, or to give them the right to adopt, is nearly the same as granting them the right to claim the children of a couple. The question here is whether the biological parents will agree to be separated from their children.This is made easy by the governments initiative to give other peoples children to gay or lesbian couples. The government also has the power to take game the children from their biological parents even though the parents did not do something that would make the government take bottom the children. This is because the government now had the incentive and the doer to take children from their parents with no due process. Baskerville reported that the 1974 Child Abuse Prevention and word Act (CAPTA) gives fiscal incentives to the states to remove children from their original parents.As a result, CAPTA became slavish in tearing children away from their parents. Additionally, the federal funds went to the cheer-care providers. Even now, there are still children removed from their families despite the fact that foster homes were more abusive than the childrens original families. This problem existed for a long time until the government conceit of another program. The government provided ano ther program to solve the problem created by CAPTA, which is the 1997 Adoption and Safe Families Act.It provided more financial service to stir children from foster care to adoption. This expanded the client base of stakeholders who had vested financial interest in available children. Gay marriage, it seemed, made this even worse. Baskerville reported that by dint of having kids adopted by gay couples, the government officials can take advantage of the adoption. These government officials can very well benefit through the funds that are set for the Act. Rekers provided three reasons on why atomic number 18 has prohibited homosexually-behaving adults from being given license to be foster parents. foremost The inherent nature and structure of households with a homosexually-behaving adult uniquely endangers foster children by exposing them to a substantial level of harmful stresses that are over and above usual stress levels in straight foster homes. (Rekers 2) This means that tho se children entering foster care usually have high incidence of psychological disorder. Rekers explained that if homosexual parents adopted those children, they (the children) are likely to be at risk of psychological harm and mal enrollment.This happens when the children are open in great stress brought upon them by the mere presence of a homosexual in a foster home. Moreover, Rekers believed that the children are affected in such a way that they are at risk of depression or psychological disorders (2). Second, Rekers reasoned out the relationships between homosexually-behaving adults tend to be less stable and short-lived, unlike the relationship between a married man and woman. Therefore, this would not be appropriate for children because they will be easily influenced.Furthermore, Rekers believed that suicidal attempt, effect abuse, psychological disorders and breakups happen most often with homosexual partners. Thus, they are incapable(p) of providing a secure and stable ho me that foster children demand. And if children are to be adopted by these homosexually-behaving adults, it would mean that children will be removed and transfer to another home. Sometimes the transition is traumatic for these children. Third, the household structure of foster-parents consisting of one or more homosexually-behaving members denies children their needs for adjustment that can be rear in straight foster homes.Rekers backed this third reason by explaining that unlike heterosexual households, a household with homosexually-behaving adults lack the concrete share of a mother and a father, which is necessary for the growth and development of children. Additionally, homosexual households lack the role of a mother and a father in raising children. Also, the children have no chance to witness a economise/wife relationship, which the society thinks is socially stable and healthier for the children.Rekers said that the children who live with a married man and woman are bett er familiarized compared to those who live in households with homosexually-behaving adults. Children in foster care must be placed with heterosexual married couple because this will provide them with their needed benefits and leads to better child adjustment. A study presented by Jacobs in her article showed that nearly all 50 studies done on the children of gay and lesbian couples (between six and 14 million in the United States) showed no significant dissentence between children raised by heterosexual or homosexual couples.However, those who oppose gay marriage argued that most of the studies done were small, there were methodological flaws, and mostly were politically biased. Jacobs reported a study which showed that theres no significant disaccordence whether a child is raised by a gay or lesbian parents. In short, a child with gay or lesbian parents does not necessarily make him disparate from his peers. However, Jacobs presented some interesting findings from other research es regarding these differences. She mentioned that in 2001, Judith Stacey, a sociologist, and her colleague, Timothy Biblarz, be out that there are, in fact, some differences.They said that although gay and lesbian parenting is not harmful for children, those who have gay parents differ in some ways from those who have heterosexual parents. For instance, a study headed by Susan Golombok reason out that having homosexual parents does not encourage their children to become homosexuals. However, the daughters of lesbians were more open to the idea of being attracted to the same gender than the daughters of heterosexual mothers. Another finding was that out of the 25 children of lesbians, six of them had had relationship with someone of the same gender.The 21 children of heterosexual mothers did not have a relationship with the same gender. Kurts countered that gays have particular(prenominal) case because the difficulties and challenges they bring are not from discrimination of mar riage. The challenges and difficulties are due to the problem of sexual difference. He added that marriage is just a consolation for the challenges that are usual in situations faced by gays. Although gays are overmuch tolerated in the United States, using marriage for the wrong purpose will not change the situations of gays.Instead, it will be the end of marriage, and the protection it provides for the children who are helpless. Gay marriage will also have an effect on heterosexual marriage. Supporting gay marriage, according to Gallagher (qtd. in Darby), would mean that the courts will not fully support the views of those who advocate heterosexual marriage. Moreover, if heterosexual marriage is confirmed as a special institution that must be protected and upheld, the number of fatherless children will decrease.Heterosexual marriage will prevent the incidences of children born outside marriage. Kotulski (qtd. in Darby) contradicted this by saying that there will still be fatherles s children. There will be factors that would continue to break families, such as poverty and violence. Other effectuate Pawelski et. al have noted some other effects of same-sex marriage to children. These effects, as noted, were experienced at different levels. In the psychosocial level, gay and lesbian individuals usually undergo peer rejection, harassment, depression or isolation. In fact, Pawelski et.al reported that almost half (47%) of gay and lesbian teens have thought about committing suicide while 36% actually attempted. Oftentimes, these individuals experience rejection from their love ones, maltreatment in schools, homelessness, and violence. As adults, they experience discrimination, marginalization and violence. Various debates over the issue of same-sex marriage intensified the unstable environment for the homosexuals in the society. overleap of support and acceptance for them and their children will have effects on their somatogenetic and psychosocial health and safety.The children of gay or lesbian couples may, in the same way, experience marginalization and discrimination by those who do not approve of gay or lesbian parenting. More often, these children do not know how or where to find support. Even alliances in schools that admit straight gays can make the situation worse. Pawelski et. al reported that children are brought into long-term partnerships with gay and lesbian parents through surrogacy, adoption and alternative insemination. Their study also delved into the attitudes and behavior, personality and adjustment of parents when it comes to parenting.The authors found out that there were only few differences recorded regarding the equation between lesbian and heterosexual mothers psychological adjustment, self-esteem and attitudes about child rearing. Lesbian mothers, the study showed, passed the psychological assessments and interviews. Furthermore, the study showed that the attitudes of lesbian mothers did not differ much from t hose of heterosexual mothers. In the same way, gay fathers did not differ much from nongay fathers. In fact, there are more similarities than differences.However, there is consult over the effect of the parents sexual orientation on the children because this might lead to embarrassment and thus keep the children from interacting with their peers. It was found out that the children of disassociate lesbian mothers experienced more teasing from peers during childhood than the children of divorced heterosexual mothers. It is of interest that Pawelski et. al mentioned that the children who grew up with gay or lesbian parents were more tolerant of diversity and more nurturing than those children with heterosexual parents.Pawelski et. al mentioned another study which showed that children of heterosexual parents considered themselves more aggressive. Their parents and teachers regarded them as more domineering, bossy and negative. On the other hand, the children of lesbian parents consider ed themselves as more lovable. Their parents and teachers regarded them as more responsive, brotherly and protective of other younger children. Another study showed that the self-esteem, aggressiveness and sociableness of children with lesbian parents and those with heterosexual parents have similarities.There were also studies conducted which showed that children of lesbian parents who were fulfil with their relationships have fewer behavioral problems and were better adjusted. There was also a study by the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health wherein the population consisted of 12105 adolescents in the United States. The authors found out that 44 adolescents, ranging from 12 to 18 years old, who were living with two women, were similar to others who have heterosexual parents when it comes to measures of anxiety, depression, self-esteem and school success.There were also similarities regarding family relationships, care from others, neighborhood integration, irrespec tive of whether the children come from opposite-gender or same-gender families (Pawelski et. al). Since the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts back in 2004, researches today showed that it may have positive impact in strengthening the ties between couples, their children and extended families. It is interesting to note, however, that a large number of young people in America seemed to support gay and lesbian issues.Olander, Kirby and Schmitt mentioned a survey done by the Council for Excellence in governing body (CEG) and CIRCLE which asked young people from 15 to 25 years old their perspective about the rights of homosexuals. The survey found out that youths supported gay and lesbian issues such as protection in housing, employment and scorn crime, legal partnerships or civic unions and the ability to adopt children (2). There are others who view gay marriage on a positive note. carpenter believed that gay marriage helps children.He said that gay parenting nowaday s is very common in the United States, and that there are children in any gay and lesbian household. He did not seem to agree that children are better raised by a married man and woman. He furthered that gay marriage will not take away children from their biological parents. Although there is no reported shortage of children, the number of married couples is not enough to raise these children. And this is the reason why singles and unmarried couples are allowed sub-optimal parenting.Carpenter thought that this arrangement is better than foster care where the effects on children are unfavorable. Brinkmann countered Carpenters views. She believed that if a child is exposed to both sexes in a household, it will have positive effects on his developmental needs. She explained that this aids them in forming their sexual identity. Since the breakdown of marriage in the country had negative effects especially on children, it must be considered that a heterosexual marriage will provide the children stableness with regards to family relationships.Brinkmann furthered that without heterosexual marriage, the society will disintegrate. Times have changed and more changes will manifest in the future. Amidst these changes, the welfare of children who are affected by gay marriage must be the utmost consideration. This means that supporting heterosexual marriage will be beneficial for these children. The government and families must make sure that every step of the way, these children will be encouraged and supported. Their needs must be met in order for them to grow as trusty citizens in our society.

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