Is It Okay for Gays to Raise Children? Watch and Decide
Many people wonder if it’s morally right or healthy for same-sex couples (gays or lesbians) to have children. It’s a common belief among many people that gay or lesbian couples are burdening children by raising them in an unnatural environment. In this video, uploaded February 3, 2011, 19-year-old Zach Wahls, a University of Iowa student, tells about the love and bond of his family. He and his sister are the children of a lesbian couple. Watch and decide. What do you think?
Originally posted November 30, 2011
Zach Wahls certainly makes a compelling argument and does so rather eloquently. It does, however, make me want to know why anyone has the right to even ask the question. No one questions, on its face, whether a heterosexual person would make a good parent and somehow, they all just have a “right” to be parents. No one questioned Casey Anthony’s “right” to be a parent, any yet, she clearly should not have been. No one questioned Jersey Bridgeman’s parents about their “right” to be parents, yet this child lived a tortured existence, being tied up in her home and numerous CPS interventions on record before a neighbor was allowed to kidnap, torture, rape and kill her while still in their care. As a society, when we base the question on such superficial benchmarks, such as an individual’s sexual preference, the question is ultimately rendered meaningless. Those who rail against gay parenthood, gay marriage and any civil rights for that matter, prove they are unfit to ultimately decide the fate of others. What’s it to them? When they are more concerned with the welfare of a child based on those superficial benchmarks and not on whether or not the child will be brought up in a safe, nurturing environment, they truly out themselves for the homophobic bigots they are.
And by the way, I hear conservative Iowa is responsible for some mighty fine articulate people besides Zach Wahls.
Thank you, Carol. Sadly, as you know, many conservatives are opposed to gay couples adopting and raising children. Perhaps this post would be better titled “Shut Up You Stupid People and See The Beauty Here” but then they likely wouldn’t watch the video. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your passion.
*Laughing* Good title.
Thanks Kay.. I so agree with you. It is amazing that in Iowa, a typically very conservative state would yield such an articulate fine young man who does not water down his message for the masses! No bad apple there! I may have initially misunderstood from the headline this morning…..
Anyway, I’m not rushing now and am very proud of all people who take on adoption with love!
Donna – Ladyjustice!
Thanks, Donna. Sorry if the headline was misleading. I purposely didn’t want it to sound one-sided. I wanted people to stop, ask themselves the question, watch the video, and then decide. After seeing Zach, how could anybody argue against gay couples having children? Yes, Zach is a fine young man, and I’m sure he makes his moms feel very proud.
Here’s our interview with Zach where he talks about what it was like growing up with two mothers, what led him to decide to go and speak before the House of Representatives, how his life has changed after this speech thrust him into the public eye, and what other young people can do to fight for equality and speak out against intolerance.
http://patv.tv/blog/2011/04/06/talking-with-yale-cohn-with-zach-wahls/
Thank you. I’m watching & listening now. He’s a great kid, and I’m enjoying your show.
I have seen Zach speak on several occasions on different T.V networks. He is an amazing young man who is proud of his moms and of who he is. While he is an example, I assure you that he is not the exception. Bravo Zach and to his and all of the loving gay and lesbian parents.
I think this is a very individual thing. It is very important that the entire gay community not be indicted for the actions of “a few very bad apples.” Just to keep the conversation going… See more “Bad apples” in my home state of CT. Judge this couple only… not all of us as a group. See link:
http://www.courant.com/community/glastonbury/hc-glastonbury-abuse-1201-20111130,0,1281866.story
Thanks!
Donna / Ladyjustice
I have met many wonderful families headed by a same-sex couple with happy, intelligent, well adjusted children — just like the 19-year-old Zach Wahls in the video in this blog. Sure, there are some bad apples among gay couples. But there are also bad apples among heterosexual couples. Thanks for sharing the article about the Glastonbury couple; it could be they are guilty, and if so, that’s horrible for the children. But we cannot judge all gay couples by a few bad people; just as we cannot judge all heterosexuals by a few heterosexual perverts.