Excellent op-ed in the Hartford Courant today

[monarch]

by a pediatrician responding to the New York gay marriage decision.

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/op_ed/hc-zavoski0711.artjul11,0,449874.story?coll=hc-headlines-oped


"There is a striking consensus among child health professionals about the well-being of children of same-sex couples: these children score equally as well on measures of health and mental health as do children of heterosexual couples. Few areas of clinical research demonstrate findings as consistently, yet some conservative activists continue to claim that it is their concern about children that leads them to oppose equal marriage rights for gays and lesbians. Concern about children's health is precisely the reason that they should reconsider their opposition.

"As a pediatrician and as president of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, I must keep up with current research on children's health. Although legislators and other public officials are not able to do the same, I urge them nonetheless to ensure that child welfare policies are driven by solid information and not shaky ideology.
...

Using specious arguments about children to deny marriage to same-sex couples is not an expression of caring for children; it is quite the opposite. It's a reality that gay men and lesbians have children - they adopt, give birth and provide foster care to children. Their children are part of our world. The question remains: What's best for those children? Prejudice harms children, whether it is socially enacted or enshrined in law. Ending discrimination in marriage laws will endow the children of same-sex couples the same civil rights and protections as their peers. If a stable childhood based upon a loving marriage between two parents is good for children, isn't it good for all children?"

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Excellent article

When I think of the kids who have been adopted by gay and lesbian couples, how these kids have a home with love and support-and conservatives would take this away--it makes me ill. Just as the "right to life" party actually celebrates death via war-the "family party" also celebrates breaking up and harming families when the parents are homosexual.

[xchrom]

2. it's not that conservatives don't know these things.

i'm tired of conceding that these people hate us because they don't know any better -- they do.

they. just. hate. us.

now studies like this could help with the masses who are luke warm about granting marrigage equality and the ability to adopt -- but i don't think they will become activists on our behalf.

[Not Me]

3. When people think, they respond fairly.

The problem is, they are constantly bombarded with negative messages by Faux, Focus on the Family, etc. that reinforce messages of hate.

In the words of Judy Shepard, "The most positive thing you can do as a gay person is to come out." Her message is that as America comes to know openly gay people--the couple next door, the grandson, the teacher-- they will put a personal face on gay issues and will stand up to the negative messages.

[jeffseadot]

4. Things and such

It's official: the American Academy of Pediatrics has subscribed to the Leftist Agenda. As such, those pedophiles can no longer be trusted. Any information they spew forth from their sinful maws is just propaganda from communists like Hillary Clinton or John Kerry who want to destroy civilization and replace it with a hedonistic cesspool of filth and debauchery.

Or maybe not. I've been trolling Free Republic lately, so I've been reading a lot of stuff lately that closely resembes what I just wrote. The difference, of course, is that I'm just being silly.