After today’s class on the functions of the family, I remembered this video that made the rounds a few weeks ago. It’s worth watching as you consider how I discussed family functions. This guy is quite a powerful orator and his experience clearly speaks for itself.
LGBT families. There’s a lot of fear out there.
191 responses to “LGBT families. There’s a lot of fear out there.”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
The first thing that pops in to my head when I hear the question “Should homosexuals be allowed to have families/ be married?” is “Why do I care?” I do not meant to sound crass, insensitive, or homophobic, but the truth of the matter is, it doesn’t affect me. If what people do has nothing to do with my life, then what people do is their own business.
One point of contention might be, “It concerns your life because homosexuals are sexual deviants and will therefore raise children that perform other grotesque acts.” I do understand that people have concern for their own wellbeing as well as the wellbeing of their parents, children, spouses, and friends. In this case, the result is left up to the beliefs of the individual, specifically whether he or she believes that a homosexual family/ marriage will lead to some form of harm for his or her family.
However, I’m not so sure that a lot of people feel this way. Also, a majority of the homosexuality debate is about homosexual marriage. This certainly does not raise different children; it is just two people gaining happiness by partaking in an activity and being recognized by the government. People who are opposed to homosexual marriage just think it is wrong and/ or it devalues their own or others’ heterosexual marriage. The question I want to ask them is “Why do you care?” Why does it matter to people who do not know any homosexual people? Even if they did, why should the way someone else lives their life affect the way you live your life in any way? There are people all over the world who beat their wives and claim to love them and people who live in a box on the street or in prison and say that they are happy the same way that homosexual people will say that they are happily married. Why is it that only the last situation has people changing laws and protesting courthouses?
On the other hand, homosexual marriage proponents want to have the right to get married because they want the government to recognize their commitment. This comes from a more personal level, but I hold almost no value in marriage but for the tax write-offs and other legal perks. What does the church or courthouse have anything to do with how I feel about my significant other?
In this way, both homosexual marriage proponents and opponents confuse me.
I just first want to say what an incredible job Zach does arguing his case. I mean I would have still believed him even if he were wrong. This kid is well rounded and is very gifted academically and all of this is possible because he comes from a loving from who cares for him.
He made a lot of good points including that family is not based on your parents being married but it’s a matter of a strong bond with the people who raise you and your siblings. I look at as my parents marriage has very little to do with legal certification that they are married. I’m sure a lesbian or gay couple could provide the same care and nurturing that my parents provide. Some people act like gays and lesbians are completely incapable of providing the necessary care to raise a family and I disagree. We watched that video in class and the two men who wanted to adopt were great parents to their boys and I saw nothing wrong with how they were raising them. And when I think of marriage between a man and woman I also think about high divorce rates and broken families and people who are just not meant to be parents. But I personally have never heard of anything like that for gay and lesbian couples. It’s actually the opposite I have only seen good things from kids who raised by two parents of the same gender. And is there some proof that gay parents cannot raise a family like a normal family. So if gay parents want to adopt I say why not? I mean here in the US there is no shortage of kids who live in orphanages. These kids deserve to be adopted and raised by two parents who love them no matter if they are gay or straight couple. So to everyone who thinks gays shouldn’t have family I think they should watch this video and then feel ashamed of themselves. `
After watching this video clip, I was very moved by Zach Wahls’s confrontation about homosexual couples. He spoke from his heart and had no fear about what other’s thought about him having two mothers. While growing up, he did not feel different from any other kid with two parents. So what if he had two mothers instead of the typical mother-father parents? He saw no difference because he believes it is “love that binds the family”.
Throughout high school, one of my best friends had two mothers. People in our school would always talk about him behind his back because of his ‘not so typical’ family. But, he did not care what others said about him. He believed he was raised with love and warmth, which other kids ‘typical’ parents do not provide to their children. While growing up he was fortune enough to have two parents that wanted him to be safe and away from harm. All he needed was support and love as a teenager, which he was given by his two mothers that loved him like all other parents would do to their own child.
On the other hand, society still judges families with homosexual parents. If someone is happy with the same sex, why discourage their relationship? Most religious people disapprove of the same sex relationships. Since it is not ‘holy’ and a ‘disgrace’ to the community, the religious part of society believes it should be banned from mankind and possibly affect a child they have in their household. It is not fair how society treats the homosexual community because they are humans just like everybody else. They should not be judged for having feelings for the same sex.
Additionally, whether a family has homosexual or straight parents, it should not affect their chances of having/adopting children in their lifetime. Two parents can love a child, no matter what orientation they decide to be or if they are even single. As long as they give that child a home, what more can the child ask for in life? Love can be given by anyone or anything.
This video discusses a point of view that I have often thought about but have never experienced. Although I have heard more often of children being raised by same sex couples, I have never heard how any of those children feel about the parents that raised them. I think that it is easy for the government and society to think that this parenting style is wrong without considering the people involved and the outcome of the situation. I think that the people who disagree with this choice have never had the opportunity to listen to someone going through it or who lives the lifestyle.
It is interesting to see how obviously passionate he is about this subject. It takes a lot of passion for a college student to stand up and make an effective speech like this on such a controversial topic. I think that after hearing this speech, anyone could understand his point of view and see how much he feels he has gained from his upbringing.
Although this is only one case, it is possible that many other children of same sex couples have had similar experiences to this and it is not fair for government and society to judge them on this decision. I know that if so many people were trying to tear apart my family I would feel strongly enough to fight to keep it together.
I think it is unfair for anyone to not be allowed to have children and a family. I know that I would be very upset if someone were to tell me that I would not be allowed to have a family. This is why I am able to understand how the student in this video is so passionate about his upbringing, because I too would be passionate when placed in this situation. After listening to his speech, I think that his childhood was potentially more healthy and happy than a child raised in a single parent household. I think that a child raised in a single parent household could have more devastating lasting effects than a child raised in a same sex parent household. Decisions on this subject should not be made by people who have not experienced it themselves.
You know one of the arguments I hear a lot against same sex adoption and child raising? It’s that in that environment, THE GAY ENVIRONMENT, children are more likely to be homosexual or converted. And let me tell you a little something about my upbringing, my parents are straight as arrows, and I my friend, am certainly not. And some studies show that children brought up by homosexuals are more likely to experiment with people of the same sex, god forbid. God forbid we accept people who are accepting and like to try on their shoes before they buy them. ‘Silly homo kids, going crazy!’
The whole situation is ridiculous. If we could just accept homosexuality whether or not their children had homosexual tendencies would be irrelevant, because duh silly it would be accepted. It gets me rather flustered, because being a homosexual and beginning to weigh the options for my future family is hard. Do I want artificial insemination? Would I carry the child? Is adoption the appropriate path? Does the race of the child matter? Do I want extra prejudice placed on my child? Should I just do what I feel is best and always be there for them as they experience some of the prejudice I inadvertently facilitated? Is this all-pointless deliberation because when I want children this country will be a more open-minded? Doubt it, but I like to write my hope.
It’s completely dehumanizing this question of whether or not gays can raise kids. Are we dogs, hamsters maybe? Honestly I think I’d rather these ignorant asses have been raised by hamsters than their own parents, because they didn’t seem to instill much of anything I view as moral. Maybe that’s just me being all gay and crazy, or maybe it really is them and they really are misinterpreting a huge demographic entirely.
And as far as suitable parents go, it’s on a personal basis. Maybe there are some shitty parents that are gay, but it isn’t because they are gay that they are shitty. Just like it isn’t an incompetent heterosexual males’ orientation that make him a horrible parent.
It blows my mind and is disappointing that Zach even have to stand up and say all of this, it just reminds me where we are in our fight to end the misinformation that this country has been plagued with since the very beginning.
One more tangent to wrap this rant, I don’t care who my parents are no matter what as long as they love me. They could be aliens and I wouldn’t care at all, the only thing is I might be more likely to talk to a green person on the sidewalk. I guess I just can’t fathom why the openness is anything less than ideal.
This guy Zach is an excellent speaker, presenting his position very well and providing personal testimony on the matter. He makes a great point in how being raised by a lesbian couple has had no obvious negative influence on his character and upbringing. The concept of nature versus nurture shows how this guy was able to be raised by what society deemed as immoral and taboo. If anything his views are made stronger and unbiased because he was raised by two women and as a male can see the flip side and still not be effected by society and what they believe is right and how a family should be. It shouldn’t matter who someone is raised by just as long as that person is being cared for, loved and brought up with good moral character.
The government makes being homosexual seem so wrong and as if these people are bad and are not moral lacking the ability to care for and love a child. The argument of same sex couples aren’t fit to be parents is shameful just because a man and women have a child doesn’t not automatically make them a parent. A parent is a person who loves and truly cares for the well-being of that child whether it be a biological parent, aunt or uncle, grandparents, family friend, but has truly nothing to do with sexual orientation. Sexual orientation can not be persuaded into a child’s mind, if its there its there if not its not matter who the child is raised by but ignorance and prejudice can be instilled in a child to hate those different. Same sex marriage isn’t trying to take over what most feel is the proper form of marriage which is between a man and a woman; it is simply allowing someone to marry another whom they love no matter their gender.
Our society has been built on the idea of fearing the unknown and trying to control and contain what is different. We have come a long what from slavery, women’s rights and now we must conquer inequality among all. Everyone has the right and obligation to fight for whom they love and feel they should be with and the government has no right to get in between that just to please ignorant people afraid of change. Treating those who are different like a second class citizens based on their sexuality is ridiculous, the freedoms, opportunities and rights given to straight families should be bestowed to same sex families without judgment or ridicule. Those who are so used to the old fashion way need to wake up and see that it isn’t 1857 anymore and that this a new time and a new generation which is open to all ethnicities, genders and sexual orientations.
This was an incredibly well thought out and well orated speech. It was very cool to see from the mouth of an individual that has had the experience to be raised by a gay couple, what his experience has been. I have to say that I agree with what he said. I support gay marriage and think that it is sort of ridiculous not to. Why should two individual’s that love each other not be able to be united in marriage in the eye’s of the state? There really is no justifiable reason that I can think of. The foundation of a strong family is one based on love, trust, and commitment and for any legislator to have the audacity to try and stereotype the relationships of gay people is beyond the definition of the word ignorant.
It is pretty clear here that this individual, Zach Wahls, has turned out to be a very successful contributor to society. His accolades include scoring in the 99th percentile on his ACT’s, owning his own small business, being a successful Iowa undergrad pursuing engineering and I think that any parent would be damn proud of what this young man has accomplished. He was raised by gays and looks to be doing much better than myself, as well as most of my friends that come from heterosexual parents. This is a testament to what good parenting can produce, not what a gay or heterosexual parent can produce. These legislators are looking past the results of strong family morality and hard work and are merely looking at the minute detail concerning the sexual orientation of the parents. That has nothing to do with the wellbeing of the child or his future.
Its important to look at what the gay couples are doing for our nation. They are prime examples of individual’s that would be perfect candidates to accept, love, and adopt children that do not have families of their own. I am sure that if the legislatures asked these children that do not have families if they would prefer to go on living in a foster home or to be adopted by gay or lesbian parents, they would surely say that they would prefer the latter.
First of all, wow. This kids speech was so moving, and he spoke with such passion and emotion that I found myself holding on to every word he said while watching this video. He exemplified, in whole, why not legally allowing gay marriage is wrong immoral, unconstitutional, and pointless. It’s clear, that his parent’s sexual orientation played no part in his development as a person. For all we know it enhanced it. I remember we discussed the topic of gay marriage and LGBT people and lifestyles in class recently and it really got me thinking about what it means to be gay and raise a family. Now let me just say before I go further that I am a straight man and am a supporter of gay marriage. But although I believe in and support gay marriage, I had never thought about it extensively. The first thing that came to my mind was the challenge and struggle that must ensue from society. You’re constantly being judged and undermined.
People for some odd reason don’t believe gay people can raise children. As if they’re going to demoralize them or raise them to be gay, or horribly scar them mentally in some way. Ridiculous I know. What’s so crazy about this is that the people who are against gay marriage are basing it off of sexual orientation, as well as (sometime) religious and societal norms rather than the character and nature of the person. The character and ideology of a person plays a much more vital role in the development of a child than their sexual orientation. Only by analyzing the way that someone actually raises a child can you determine if they are fit to do so. In our own judicial system we are not found guilty until proven so in a court of law. The same concept should apply to gay couples raising a family. The kid in this video is an extreme success in gay families and is a prime example that sexual orientation plays no part in how people raise a family. I’d say this kids mothers did a pretty damn good job.
This speech by Zach Wahls really brings into perspective the issue of gay marriage. What difference does it make if two people, who have no affect on our lives, of the same sex want to get married? Zach is a perfect testament to the fact that gay parents are completely capable of raising healthy, intelligent, and successful children the same as any straight couple. This amendment to the constitution has no effect on the daily lives of anyone, but the gay couples themselves. Why not let them get married instead of forcing them to live as second class citizens? We discussed in class the various responsibilities of families and parents, and not one of these goals is not able to be accomplished by a gay couple. They are able to keep a child safe, while helping them to grow and learn the same as any other couple. Statistics prove the children of gay couple are not different from other children. They aren’t more likely to become gay themselves, they are just more likely to be open about it given the way they grew up.
This statement makes the argument that being gay is not a choice and is biological, but either way who cares if a gay couple that you have never met wants to become legally married. I think it is selfish of the majority of the population to try and keep marriage as something only for straight couples. Half of these so-called “normal” couples are horrible at raising children to begin with. Gay couples are put through many invasive and nerve-racking tests to prove that they are fit parents. If they want to adopt it is a huge drawn out process for them to finally get the child. Most straight couples wouldn’t even be able to pass these tests. Zach Wahls is proof, along with many other children of gay couples that they are just as fit parents as any else, so why stop them from getting married. They want to be able to truly become a family, and I think we should allow them to finally do this.
Zach Wahls gave a terrific argument in respect to his family. He spoke with integrity and wisdom. I completely agree with him about same sex marriage. Regardless of the sexuality of your parents you have the ability to be who you want to be.
Although, I do feel that the intellectual level of this young is unique to him. He is above and beyond ‘average’. So does this mean that he represents a positive correlation to having same sex parents? Possibly, but I wouldn’t go that far as to say that. I mean, this young man is an exemplar to the finest of students. He said himself he scored in the 99th percent. I may be rotten for saying this, but this young man should not be allowed to solely represent the children that are products of a gay marriage.
Don’t get me wrong, this kid is great; he is among the finest of the fine. He has the great, yet rare, ability to speak publicly. If I wasn’t already for his opinion, he would have persuaded me.
I strongly believe that your sexual orientation is predetermined. With that said, to not be allowed to marry, according to Tim Minchin, “the one girl [or boy] on Earth specifically designed for me” is wrong! (For those who didn’t watch that social issue video, it is Tim Minchin’s ‘If I Didn’t Have You. If you didn’t already, definitely watch it!) Marriage is not something that should be determined by anyone other than the people engaging in it.
What is so wrong with two people of the same sex getting married anyway? Is the best argument against it religion? If so, it’s a great thing that more than one religion is believed in the world. God would look at such an act as a sin? That may be true, or at least it would have been. Times are changing, not everything is the way it used to be. And it’s about time people start to accept that what it is.
Just let it be, if a person wants to display their affection of another. Let it be.
I remember a couple months ago a friend of mine showed me a video she saw in her psychology class. In the video people were asked how much money they would need to be paid in order to kill a puppy. After the video I tweeted that I would kill a puppy for $10. I was half joking and half serious, however, the response I got from my followers was disgust. I told them in other parts of the world killing puppies might be the norm and killing and eating chickens is disgusting. I told them the only reason why they have a negative opinion on killing puppies is because that is one of the values instilled upon them by their parents or whoever they were raised by as well as the society they grew up in. They told me that these countries are also third world countries with child labor and other “bad” things. The society in which you grow up shapes your mind in so many subconscious ways that we don’t even realize. The only reason why we have any of our opinions is because it’s what we were told. No matter what someone claims, they are unoriginal because we are raised to think and agree with what those around us think and agree with. Why is gay marriage bad? Well, because in some religion made by a human being claiming to be inspired by a higher being decided that two people with the same reproductive organs meeting together is wrong. Looking at the man in the video, a man who would be considered a role model for all children and young adults there is no logical reason why gay marriage is wrong. There are so many “evil” people in the world raised by straight parents, however, no one has decided that heterosexuals are unfit for marriage and should not raise children together. The man in the video could bring all the proof in the world of why gay marriages should be allowed and gay couples should raise children but depending on who’s listening the evidence will not matter. People will only hear what they would like to hear. People are extremely one sided and only listen to and agree with their side of the story. Our world/lives are relatively static and very rarely is change accepted throughout history. Our generation will grow up more willing to accept and grant gay rights, but just like how there are still old racists who hate no matter what they are told, the old antigay activists will not change their minds any time soon.
This video gave me a new perspective on gay couples. Had he not said so in the beginning of the speech I would have not known he was raised by two woman. He came off just as any person would come off while giving a speech. He spoke clearly and passionately which just goes to show that kids raised under gay couples are no different than kids raised by a mother and a father. Yes, he admitted he had his ups and downs with his gay parents but then follows it by saying, “what family doesn’t have problems.” He explains how they do normal family things with his younger sister for example, attending church. He has great experiences to back up his argument. He explains how in school he used to be proud and admit to his upbringing just because he wanted to show that it should not be looked down upon. He shows his success, showing that just because he had no father to grow up with he could still succeed. This most moving and significant statement he makes is what he says about what family truly means. He argues that is not a piece of paper that the government gives you saying “congratulations your married.” No, it is much more than that he says. He shows how love and unity are what makes a family strong and the fact that all members of the family are always there for each other. I admire him for fighting for his passion for his same sex parents. He gives plenty of evidence showing that having same sex parents has not had a negative impact on his character. He is pleading for their rights and showing his thoughts about he feels that is wrong to tell him someone who they can marry and love.
After watching both of these videos I completely agree with what Zach was saying and with the video that was shown in class. I feel as if same sex marriages should be allowed in all the states. I mean they have all the key components that make a family. They love their kids the same way that heterosexual couples do and live a normal life like same sex couples as well. As we discussed family in class earlier this week, the functions of a family were laid out on the table. If I remember correctly, the same sex couples depicted in what we watched in class were able to provide everything a normal couple would. They had food, shelter, love and supported growth. With modern science this is no longer become a vital issue as we seen in both the video in class and this video clip. So what is the core difference? Well I don’t mean to quote myself but I wrote it purposefully the way others would say it, “everything a normal couple would.” They are in some way not normal. Is there something wrong with them? No, yet we say it in this way. As the young man said in this clip, same sex couples are being treated as second-class citizens. All of this just because they are different then straight couples. We have seen so many times straight couples having children when they are not ready for the obligation or lack the parenting skills to do so but they get that baby because they are straight. Maybe there should be some laws giving background checks to expecting straight couples. But these kids who have no family foundation through their straight parents are the ones adopted into gay families. People treat gay couples like a disease and think that if they raise a child it will be gay as well, which is most of the time not the case. We need more people like the young man in this video to step up and show the world that a change needs to be made and that their assumptions are wrong.
Does it really matter what sexual oreientation people are? Does it affect their ablitility to raise a family, raise children? I dont really think so because we are all people at the end of the day. We all have objectives in the world and some is to raise kids and some not. I am at a point in my lfe that ia m ready to have a son because I just want one. I want to show my kid how should life should be. Telling him that he can be who he wants to be and not care what other people say. People have this attitude that if homos raise children then they might come out gay, which is totally wrong. Research shows that most kids dont come out gay. I really enjoyed the video we watched in class because it showed me a life I am soon will live as a gay male. Yes I am gay and I am proud to be who I am. I didnt choose this life but I live it. I know that one day, once I get settled in I am going to have my kid and let him grow up and hes gonna go to college just like me and be somebody. I know that because I am gay that I am not going to corrupt him. With that being said, lets LGBT people do as they please. IF they want to have kids, then so be it. Why should it matter to what other people think or say. I just dont get why we care so much about what people say because who are they? Can they judge us or make our decisions for us. Life is way too short to be worried about the opinions of others. I live my life the way I want to live my life, despite the hardship life puts me through. I live for me and only me. I wonder if one day, LGBT will run the world. Cause this world is getting to populated. We need population contol cause too many kids are being pushed out everyday.
I felt like Zach Wahls’ speech was extremely moving. He was very well spoken and to the point. The movement for equal rights for homosexuals needs more people like Zach Wahls to insight change in our government. Many times, people are put off by gay activism because it can be very flashy and in your face. Although gay pride is a very important aspect of coming out and getting the message out, I feel like sometimes it can bring the movement a step backwards because of this. To insight change people, especially those who are so adamant about gay rights issues, you need to try coming from a different place. There are a lot more people who can easily understand and listen to people like Zach Wahls. They would be much less likely to take seriously a man in drag waving a rainbow flag in the local gay parade.
Gay parenting has always been an issue that has interested me. I find it fascinating that people actually think that the sexual orientation of parents would have any kind of negative effect on their children. I think that if anything, it would have a very positive effect because they would be starting off their lives with a very open mind. And studies show that same-sex couples tend to fight less often because they can understand better emotional cues and handle arguments in a more proficient manner. So having parents who teach their children through their lifestyle alone to be open-minded along with less fighting in the household will probably bode better for them as growing parts of the community.
I feel like the show Modern Family proves that a healthy gay marriage is just as good as any straight marriage. They go through many of the same problems as straight couples do but they also love their child just as much as any straight couple would. Many times orphanages would rather have children adopted by a single parent or a broken home then have them in the care of a homosexual couple. That is very sad to me. I don’t understand how growing up on one person’s income, without either a male or female figure in their lives, is better than having two of the same sex. I will never understand that rationale.
As a bisexual woman, I know that if I were to end up with a woman, we would have to face a lot of prejudice regarding gay marriage, adoption and many other things that others wouldn’t have to be bothered with. It is not fair that there is such prejudice about gay marriage especially because it is mostly on the basis of religion, when this government has promised separation of church and state.
This video was very interesting. This man speaking seems like a normal, very successful man that seems very confident in his views and believes. I think this was a great example of how LGBT families are just like normal families, contrary to what many people think. A family should not be about what sex parents or children are, but how committed they are to each other. The speaker states that his lesbian parents had no effect on his well-being and growth.
I had no idea about the effects of gay parents on their children. As we spoke about it in class and after seeing this video, I believe that people are too scared of different things, such as gay marriage and families. Yes, this may not be the typical, mainstream structure of a family, but a family, as the speaker stated in his video, is one that is committed to each other and has love that binds us. Society is to blame for the negative connotations that come with being a lesbian parent or gay parent. Society is scared of unnecessary issues sometimes, as stated in our book. Gay marriage and families is one of many major issues that our world reveals much emotion about.
Like how ‘bums’ from the streets can become famous, successful boxers. I believe that anyone in any circumstance can thrive. We humans just need love, compassion, and stability. Children of those that are lesbian or gay may be ridiculed in school, or feel self-conscious about their different family, but that goes for other families too. Children from ethnic or even ‘fat’ families experience the same ridicule that many children do. Society will always be the same in that they will always reject different things. Change is a very hard things to undergo with ease.
I believe that the purpose of life is to find your soulmate or whatever makes you happy. I feel like everyone should live life to the fullest and with as much joy as they can. Life is so short and people shouldn’t waste their time being so critical of how others live. As long as they’re happy, successful, healthy and supported, I feel like that is awesome, no matter what race, sex, disabilities they may have.
Zack speaks passionately and proudly about this topic. It should make anyone who is scared of homosexual parents raising children rethink their stance. He is a very masculine college student showing his opinion on the topic. He’s right; if he did not bring the fact to the table about his mothers then I would have probably assumed he was a football player going to school somewhere expensive dating girl’s way out of my league. Maybe he is but it’s not right to assume.
Similarly to voting rights, women’s rights, and civil rights alike, it is all going to take time to create awareness and educate people about who these people are. However, if more people with personal stories stand up and speak about them it will take significantly less time. This form of parenting is becoming a lot more popular in recent years and will continue to increase in future years. My stance on it? I think that humans who are fit to be parents are fit to be parents, it does not matter your age, race, or sexual orientation. It should be a personal choice made by the person, not made by the state. These are the rules and laws made up by leaders nearly three hundred years ago. Yes, there have been amendments to these laws but something’s not working. And who says that the politicians of our states, namely straight, white, older men get to write these rules? Well I guess the people do but there will soon come a time where these issues will come to light, and people will elect officials that will address them.
Nobody is born a racist, just like no one is born a homophobe. It is something that is taught to you by friends, family, and anyone close to you. That is to be, or not to be hateful towards a certain group of people. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a family who respected all people equal and taught me to make my own assumptions of people. Since they thought all people were good, so did I. The root of the problem is parenting these children when they are younger, and informing them correct opinions about every different type of people.
I have always found the LGBT marriage debate to be quite baffling. Why is somebody in a different area of the country getting married having an affect on you? Why would you try to tell someone that they are not deserving of showing love through the ultimate commitment of marriage. With the divorce rate hovering around fifty percent, it is clear that not all individuals that get married are right for it. Yet we allow any type of consensual heterosexual marriage, assuming each person is of a certain age.
People then say, well why can you not marry your dog or cat, a spoon, or even a baby? That is because none of these three had the ability to consent to a relationship, let alone a marriage. People will always do their best to reach the ultimate goal of a happy life. When we take a potentially beautiful love and take away all hope of manifesting that love in marriage, we are preventing the parties involved from achieving their ultimate goal of happiness.
The last thing I want is for people to intrude on my ability to make what I want for my life. I always go back to my golden rule: Do whatever you like as long as it does not a) hurt someone and b) prevent others from doing what they like to do. Therefore, if you want are trying to create a world where the option for gay marriage is absent, you are taking away somebody else’s (LGBT people) ability to do what they would like to do (get married).
I am glad to see, however, that ground is being made in various areas of the country. Even family values are beginning to change in various ways. I come from a fairly conservative family. I struggle being one of the few who likes to look at all different points of view. However, no matter when, how, or why anybody in my family would choose to come out of the closet, it has been made clear that this does not change anything when it comes to family. I like to see us moving further in this direction.
This video I just watch pretty much sum up what we having been talking about the last couple week in class. The way he talk, the way he expresses himself, the way he dresses, and the all the basic function a normal person should have in society. As a matter of fact if he was arguing for his gay parents I would of never of guess that he was raised by gay parents. Not only does he look and act just likes everyone in society that fits a perfect childhood. He has a bright future ahead of him graduate college at the top of his class owns his own small business. Now you cannot say after seeing his testimony that gay parent cannot raise a proper and successful young man or women. As he said in all his 19 years of live he has never met an individual that has known he was raised by gay couple because as he sees it his family is no different than any other family in the United State. He explains how they eat dinner go to church together and they have downs where they get into fight and goes through tough family problems. Going to Penn State with well over forty thousand people attending I am sure there are many students that are raised by gay parents. In my four year here I have not been able to tell one student that was different because he was raised by gay parents. In fact none of my friends have either (as we talked about it the other day) and I really don’t think you can tell. I believe what makes a person is not that he is raised by a man and a woman; it is the structure, the support, the love, the discipline, and help a person receive from his family and friend no matter what gender they are. As Zach say it is not going to affect his family because no matter what happen I family is a family and they are there for each other no matter what it is. I never really thought about this public issue but I do believe it would have a little if no effect on a person if he was raised by gay or straight parents.
This video was pretty cool, that guy was a really good speaker. To tell you the truth I completely agree with what he said. He was right, He was still successful in life and he loved his family very much, to have a government tell you that it is unjust to live in your own family is unjust in itself. I have two gay aunts, and they have kids, and they are doing just fine, one aunt is a professor at a Cal U, and the other sold her multiple businesses she owned to move out to California with my other aunt. Yes they are very successful in life the fact that they are gay have nothing to do with it, they are the way they are and it is no ones business on how they live their life. How many of your parents are that successful? Probably not many. So this guy seems to relate to me, I've scene what he was explaining I know where he comes from in a sense. I likes his statement on how successful he was in life and how having gay parents didn't effect him or his choices in life. That is incredible, this guy to me gets life. Life is about your choices, and I believe that also. I hear all this invisible string stuff and believe it is crap, that everything around us shapes us, this guy proves that wrong. Everyone has this perception on gay marriage, and think that it is bad for kids, this will then lead to the belief in the kids minds that this is bad, “the strings” but again this kid goes against the grain and says look I'm successful, I love my family and is proud to say so, we need more people like him in this world. LGBT families are just like any other family in this world, no different from anyone else. If a couple chooses to be gay, then so be it, let them do what they want, It's none of my business on someone's personal life. I've scene in my time so many destructive families where the father was an alcoholic and abused his kids, the mom abused drugs, and let me tell you I would rather be in this guys family.
This video does a very good job of giving evidence supporting gay marriage and the legitimacy of gay parenting skills as the orator had been raised by a lesbian couple himself. Honestly, I do not see why anybody would oppose the legalization of gay marriage besides those who are extremely religious, as gay marriage is indeed considered a sin in the Bible. However, church and state are supposed to be separated, so that should not have any holding against the gay couples.
The orator is correct. Gay marriage being illegal does not prevent gay love. Gay people will still be gay, whether the law recognizes them as legitimate families or not. It is simply stupid to classify them as unfit to be married just because of their sexual orientation. Marriage is supposed to be the unity of two people in love (hell, even multiple people in the case of polygamy), and should not have anything to do with the sexes of those involved in the matrimony.
Gay people can raise children just fine, and gay couples would actually do a favor to society by adopting orphans and reducing the amount of suffering children. As we saw in the video we watched and in the example of this Iowan, gay couples can indeed provide all that is needed by their children adequately. Also, children raise by gay parents do not have a higher chance of being gay (not that that would matter), but would be more likely to come out of the closet if they were actually gay. The man in this video is nineteen and is no different from anybody else besides the fact that he was raised by two women. He is successful, intelligent, and a perfectly normal human being. Why should his mothers not be recognized as a couple?
I simply do not understand why other people care who gets married. It doesn’t affect anybody other than those being married. There are MUCH bigger problems in America right now than who can be married and who cannot. For all I care, marriage could be legal between animals and humans. Although I definitely do not agree with this practice, not allowing the marriage wouldn’t stop a man from loving an animal. Love is an unstoppable emotional force, whether the law accepts it or not.
Being gay myself, I can kind of relate to this video. I’m not married (yet), nor do I have kids (yet), but I definitely want to do both. When I came out to my mom, I remember one of the things I specifically made sure to tell her was that I want to have kids/raise kids. She thought this was great, but she wasn’t to thrilled to hear the news, and still today I don’t think she’s to happy about it; but, I’m not going to change; it’s who I am. I feel like I will be a good parent. I don’t understand why people would even ever think about a same-sex couple wouldn’t make a good parent; even when I was young, this never occurred to me. I mean, I have two parents, 1 male, 1 female and they’re both equally as good to me as the other is. Sure they do things differently, but nonetheless, they’re both good parents. My parents are also divorced; a divorced, straight couple – huh. Saying that a same-sex couple can’t be good parents, is kind of like saying that a single parent can’t be a good parent. Maybe there is no mother involved, but what about kids whose mothers die, and are raised by one parent, their father? Does that mean that he’s a bad parent because there’s no female involved? I remember when I was young I heard my mother say something about kids need a mother because they need someone to love them, and women are seen as more nurturing and caring as men. Of course I think the opposite of this, there are many very gentle, caring, loving, and even feminine men, and some of these men are even gay. The same goes with women, there are both straight and lesbian women that are more masculine. Sometimes, the straight women are more masculine than their husbands. Zach is a really good speaker, he got his point across, and there’s a possibility, based on the way he talked, he may have scared a few people into changing their minds about same-sex parenting.
Gay marriage is a big debate here in the United States, along with the debate if these same sex couples should be allowed to adopt children. After hearing this man speak about his life it is safe to say that the fact he has same sex parents has zero effect on what makes him a person. He has made it pretty clear that he has lived a normal life; even beyond normal in the fact he scored in the 99 percentile for his standardized exams. His parents being of the same sex obviously has not negatively affect him, and it seems it has helped him. There is just as much love in his household as there is in a heterosexual couple’s home. He also has a sister that has gone on to be just as successful as him who was of the same parents. This man proves that same sex couples can care for just as many children with the same amount of love as a heterosexual couple. He just wants “equal and fair treatment” from his government which he and his family isn’t getting, because the laws against him aren’t allowing for marriage of same sex couples in Iowa. He just wants the laws against him to be changed because the people themselves can’t change whom they love
First of all, his speech was absolutely amazing and inspiring. To be honest, I could not understand what he speaks in detail but I could catch the main theme of his speech. I was so moved by how he speaks and what he is trying to tell us so I would like to write a response to this video. The issue about marriage equality is the one I have been interested in since I met my best friends right after I entered my university in Japan. I have learned so many things from them especially about gay communities. I had never even thought that there are any communities like that. It is still kind of a taboo to talk about sexuality in Japan so I think I am lucky to have such friends who taught me something really important which changed my point of view. The reading “The Five Sexes: Why Male and Female Are Not Enough” mentions that the Western notion of two sex is false and suggests that we should have a wider view toward sex.
Not only in West but also in Japan, we are told that heterosexual is the only ‘normal’ sexuality ever since we can remember. It is so hard to eliminate the notion because it is already shaping how we act, how we think and even which sex we should be attracted to for such a long time. There are people who never want to accept homosexuality and be able to respect other’s privacy. However, I do personally think it is none of their business. When do homosexuals give troubles to heterosexuals just by being homosexual? Those heterosexual people tend to barge into others’ privacy- sexuality and moreover, make a difficult situation for homosexuals.
In this video, he says that it does not matter what sexual orientation you have to make a healthy and happy family. He says that whether you have love matters. I totally agree with him. Even your parents are a heterosexual couple, if they do not have love, your family will not work. I think there so many things out there that we really need to care rather than caring others’ sexuality and even deny them because of their sexual orientation.
I think the issue on whether gays should or should not be allowed to marry is a pointless one. That’s ask hour self the only question that is worth being asked the question that itself, is against gays marrying. It is not about what marriage is. Is it not about whether 2 people are able to love a child. It is clear that gay parents can love their children as much as any parent, that is not the question in question. The question that we must ask ourselves is this. Does God want or allow gays to marry? That is pretty much the reason why there is a fight and attempt to stop gays from marrying. People who are against gays marrying and parenting children are those with strong religious beliefs. They do not believe gays should get marry. I believe gays should be allowed to do what they want. They do not agree with God. The God of the Bible (which is what most Americans follow) only wants to people who does what he wants to follow him. Secular people are secualar the only wants to people who does what he wants to follow him. Secular people are secualar the either don’t believe or want to change what the Bible says. The Bible forbids homosexuality but that’s OK though. If you want to be gay its your life and you have that free will to be a gay parent. However, dont attempt to act is if God is fine with your decision because from what the Bible says he is not. But its not about God its about you. If that’s what you want to do then go ahead and do it. People who fight against gay parents that do it from a religious stance ( which is most of them) should not fight against it. Gays like any sinner is not doing Gods will thus will not reep his reward
The speaker in this video makes a very compelling argument as to why same sex partners should be allowed to raise children in our society. He cites many examples of his accomplishments as proof that he was uneffected by the fact that he was raised by two mothers. The most interesting argument he makes, from my point of view, is that he had never been confronted by someone who had independently realized that he was a child of same sex parents. I find this so interesting because this man has undoubtedly met countess numbers of people in his life, many of whom probably despise and speak out against gay partners' raising of children. So, if these people who are so against the raising of children by same sex partners can't even distinguish a child of gay marriage from other heterosexually raised children, how could they possibly say that this could hurt our society? If we cannot tell if someone was raised by gay parents, then we obviously find these people to be quite as norman as ourselves, and they should be treated that way.
Although this is only one case, he speaks for millions that have been treated unequally because others know that their parents are homosexuals, when they would have been treated equally if no one knew that they were a child of a gay couple. Many say that children who grow up in a homosexual setting are more likely to become gay themselves, versus growing up in a regular heterosexual family. But as we learned in class, these children are not more likely to become gay simply from growing up in a household of gay parents.
There are so many invisible factors that contribute to someone's sexuality, and this video makes the argument that being raised is a homosexual environment is not one of the major factors. The speaker also talks about how his family was similar to normal, traditional families. His argument inspires one to wonder what he woud actually be like if he had been raised by heterosexual parents. As mentioned before, I believe that his unpbringing in a homosexual household was one of many factors that made him who he is today. There have been so many other factors in his life, ones that we cannot see or understand, that affected him in other ways, and that he would probably have turned out very similar if he had been raised by heterosexual parents.
This video is an excellent example of how a child, like Zach Walls, can grow up perfectly normal and have a normal life having two mothers. His speech was remarkable because he was able to bring up how his family has the key functions that any traditional family that has one father and one mother has. However many people in todays society do not define LGBTs as functioning families because they lack the civil union of marriage.
According to Zach Wahls, Family is not about the state saying your married and its okay now. That is not what being a family is really all about. Family he says is about making commitments to one another and being there for each other through the good and the bad. Zach says that family comes from “the love that binds us…that is what makes a family”
After listening to that I thought about my own family and how his life is just as “normal” as mine family is. We know we are always there for each other and I know that the love of my parents is the strong bond that holds us together. I think it is a shame that society is so critical on the subject of LGBT couples raising children. In class we learned that children of gay couples might be more likely to come out IF they are gay but they are NOT more likely to be gay.
I thought it was a very interesting point then Zach Wahls also pointed out that in his 19 years not once was he ever been confronted by an individual who realized independently that he was raised by a gay couple and he says the reason that is, is because the sexual orientation of his mothers has had zero affect on his character. This fact alone should show the courts that the children of LGBT families are not exposed to any of the “bullying” that the media usually discuses as a significant problem.
So when it comes down to the question of can gays even raise kids, I completely believe with all of my heart that they can. Zach Wahls and his family is not so different from any family, so why should they be treated as if they are.
Zach is a perfect example of how a gay couple family is just like a normal everyday family. The most important point Zach proposes in his speech is that the bill will not change what a family is because family is a commitment between people who love one another. The bill will simply change how gay couples are treated and seen by the public. They want to be treated equally and viewed as the same and not different because their commitment to another human being is the same sex as them. This video really moved me because I was previously against gay marriages and them being able to raise children. I was under the impression, like most people, that the child will not have a normal upbringing and will most likely end up being gay as well just like his or her parents. This is definitely not the case and Zach has showed me that. He shows how he is just like everyone other person and was still raised to be able to succeed and have a great life beyond his home. He admits yes at first it was hard with people judging him. But I admire him greatly for the fact that he is standing up for his parents and that he is willing to fight for the cause. He is good hearted and believes that people deserve to be happy. Regardless if that means you are marrying and having children with a man or woman. It shouldn’t matter as long as everyone gets the chance to be happy and live their life how they choose. The stigma clearly is not true that gay couples do not give a child a good upbringing. Zach shows us that everyones thoughts and stigmas should not stick about gay marriages.
Soc 001
This video was very powerful to me. It makes me sad how our society has yet to allow these families to be apart of the same benefits as the families that have heterosexual parents. I have never really thought of a family in prospect to gender each member is, but as a unit of those who love each other. I am proud and thankful for this man to get up and fight for his own family and demonstrate how unfair it is to be discriminated against just because he had two mothers. I worked at a camp two summers ago and had two children in my group with gay parents. There was no difference whatsoever between the behaviors of the children with a mom and dad compared to those with two moms. Both loved their families very much. For this, I am disappointed on how our society is still making this huge idea of the idea that gays can become any sort of union whether it is marriage or having a family. It just seems so messed up to me. Sociology has already uncovered that there are no drastic effects on having two of the same sex parents compared to having one of each gender. It's not necessarily the gender that makes all the difference, but the parenting style that comes from it. There are so many bad parents out there that shouldn't have been able to raise kids, and it wasn't based off their sexuality. It was based off bad parenting and abuse. Families shouldn't become such a legal debate. This man in the video was a family regardless of what the legal system states. How can we put such restraints on two people trying to come together and form something so beautiful and important? There are so many other issues out there to be concerned about. Society's view on lesbian and gay families is slowly changing, but is quite sad to see how long it took for us to come this far. It is hard enough as it is to realize that your family is different than most, but even harder to know that your own country's legal system isn't supporting you or your family. That is a burden that is completely unnecessary.
This video speaks very strongly to me. I have several friends who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual, and to me, I just don’t care what they are; as long as they are friendly. This gentleman Zach is amazing to speak out like this. There is a lesbian couple a few houses away from me in my home town, and together they have three special education children that they have adopted. I have never seen a happier family. What Zach speaks is the truth, he was raised in a loving home, or so it seems, and he is highly intelligent. There are thousands of kids who are raised in homes with a mother and father, in the eyes of the government a “proper” home, where the child is beaten every single night for no reason. There are children in “proper” homes where they are neglected, ignored, and forced to be on their own, but two people who happen to be of the same gender cannot save that child from their horrible home life because the government does not deem it “proper”? I say that it is bull shit.
My one friend who is a lesbian said it perfectly, “Why do they have to call it gay rights? Are we not human too?” To the government, they made that choice to be gay because no one is born that way. Again I say bull shit. My favorite television show Glee, Kurt says that he doesn’t believe in God, because if there was a God, why would he make him gay so that everyone could pick on him. He goes on to say that he didn’t choose this life, that it was forced upon him.
If the government goes on to say that gay couples cannot marry because they cannot have children, they why do we have adoption or artificial insemination? It’s because women in heterosexual relationships sometimes have trouble conceiving too and look to the other two options in order to have kids. In the case of Zach, his two mothers opted for the latter to have a genetically related baby through artificial insemination. For two males raising a baby, they could always have a surrogate or adopt. If the family is loving and can care for the child it should not matter, but unfortunately, it does.
I think that if two people that are good people want to raise a person together they should just go for it. If they can raise a family right then its whatever we can not tell another person they can not raise another family. If they are gay together and they want a family it would be okay. Who are we as a society to tell another persno they cant not have another child with two mothers. Two fathers is a wired thing though it might be a little weird for a child to have two fathers I feel like if they have two fathers it could really mess with the kids thoughts but I really dont know so it could be false or true but then again I am not voting to support or deny same sex people to have children I wouldn't want to have two fathers personally though maby it would be different if I actually had two fathers though. But then again what about all the children who have only one parent or switch houses once a week living on and off with each of their parents knowing that each of their parents hate each other or even in a good case I feel like the two parents are atleast friendly towards each other but when they are not it could leave the child in a potentioally weird position picking one side being the mother or the father and then it leaves a whole family apart during all the different seasons such as chirstmas and all having family going against themselves but then again I wouldnt want theat so theirs so many different sitiuation within a house where it could possibly be worse having drug addict mother and fathers who dont even care about their sons and daughters not picking them up when they suppose to be picked up from different sporting events and friends houses but then theirs the abusive parents who just beat hteir kids senseless and throw hteir kids in the trash such as seen on jerry springer they have showed some of the most disastrous families moms sleeping with sons and fathers sleeping with daughters 18 and older and then their the grandfathers making his own grandkids and everythign else they almost make it seem like any family tie could be made with two willing people who knows though
I completely agree with what Zach was saying and with the video that was shown in class. I feel as if same sex marriages should be allowed in all the states. I mean they have all the key components that make a family. They love their kids the same way that heterosexual couples do and live a normal life like same sex couples as well. As we discussed family in class earlier this week, the functions of a family were laid out on the table
If I remember correctly, the same sex couples depicted in what we watched in class were able to provide everything a normal couple would. They had food, shelter, love and supported growth. With modern science this is no longer become a vital issue as we seen in both the video in class and this video clip. So what is the core difference? Well I don’t mean to quote myself but I wrote it purposefully the way others would say it, “everything a normal couple would.” They are in some way not normal. Is there something wrong with them? No, yet we say it in this way. As the young man said in this clip, same sex couples are being treated as second-class citizens. All of this just because they are different in the way they love. The person they love looks like them and has the same body parts, but as the old saying goes “home is where the heart is”, if that’s where the heart is they who is society to judge them? We have seen so many times straight couples having children when they are not ready for the obligation or lack the parenting skills to do so but they get that baby because they are straight and able to make one. Maybe there should be some laws giving background checks to expecting straight couples. But these kids who have no family foundation through their straight parents are the ones adopted into gay families.
If I were gay and in that situation (or simply unable to have children myself) I would rather adopt than go round about ways to create my own biological child. It's not about their right or lack thereof to have children. I just think that, with all the children in the world who need a home, if you can't have children of your own anyways, it's better to adopt than bringing another into the world. People treat gay couples like a disease and think that if they raise a child it will be gay as well, which most of the time not the case. We need more people like the young man in this video to step up and show the world that a change needs to be made and that their assumptions are wrong.
Zach Wahls makes a strong case and it surprised me how much he actually said in just three minutes. By this I mean how big of a message he was able to convey and how truthful he was being able to convince me. I completely agree that he is very accomplished, whether or not this has anything to do with having same sex parents but it is apparent that it can be attributed to his upbringing and therefore in this case it is. As he point out, you cannot distinguish this about him without him having to say so. This goes to show though that in his case it is possible for two women to raise a successful young man and their commitment to this really speaks true in his character. It is great to see that now that he is of age he even supports his parents to the fullest and is present in court to justify the type of relationship his parents have for all others who share the same and seek marriage. I can see in this light that two parents of the same sex are perfectly capable of being great, supportive parents. In fact I might add in my own personal opinion, they might even be better to a certain extent, such as Zach’s parents.
This man talks about the type of commitment his mothers have to each other and the family, one that they apparently still have to this day as he stands before the judge to represent them. Well, having two parents still together by your side in adulthood is better than not having both parents of a heterosexual relationship committed to each other to make the family still as strong at this point of your life. It is obvious today how many marriages go wrong, and how devastating the effects of divorce can be on the development of children into adulthood, especially at a young age. If anyone deserves marriage, it is people like this man’s mothers who would strongly uphold what it means to be married and are indeed representing that to the fullest even without the legal title as it is. It is beneficial to society as a whole for the people that as this video presents, can be raised by same sex parents to be strong, successful adults of great character and devotion such as this individual.
I completely agree with what Zach was saying and with the video that was shown in class. I feel as if same sex marriages should be allowed in all the states. I mean they have all the key components that make a family. They love their kids the same way that heterosexual couples do and live a normal life like same sex couples as well. As we discussed family in class earlier this week, the functions of a family were laid out on the table
If I remember correctly, the same sex couples depicted in what we watched in class were able to provide everything a normal couple would. They had food, shelter, love and supported growth. With modern science this is no longer become a vital issue as we seen in both the video in class and this video clip. So what is the core difference? Well I don’t mean to quote myself but I wrote it purposefully the way others would say it, “everything a normal couple would.” They are in some way not normal. Is there something wrong with them? No, yet we say it in this way. As the young man said in this clip, same sex couples are being treated as second-class citizens. All of this just because they are different in the way they love. The person they love looks like them and has the same body parts, but as the old saying goes “home is where the heart is”, if that’s where the heart is they who is society to judge them? We have seen so many times straight couples having children when they are not ready for the obligation or lack the parenting skills to do so but they get that baby because they are straight and able to make one. Maybe there should be some laws giving background checks to expecting straight couples. But these kids who have no family foundation through their straight parents are the ones adopted into gay families.
If I were gay and in that situation (or simply unable to have children myself) I would rather adopt than go round about ways to create my own biological child. It's not about their right or lack thereof to have children. I just think that, with all the children in the world who need a home, if you can't have children of your own anyways, it's better to adopt than bringing another into the world. People treat gay couples like a disease and think that if they raise a child it will be gay as well, which most of the time not the case. We need more people like the young man in this video to step up and show the world that a change needs to be made and that their assumptions are wrong.