Changing the definition of marriage would undermine the very nature that gives marriage its unique status in society. Ultimately, forcing marriage to mean all things will force marriage to mean nothing at all. If marriage becomes just one form of commitment in a spectrum of sexual relationships rather than a preferred monogamous relationship for the sake of children, the line separating sexual relations within and outside of marriage becomes blurred, and so does the public policy argument against out-of-wedlock births or in favor of abstinence.
Decisions about sex, marriage, and childbearing are not merely personal. They have deep social consequences, particularly for children.
Social Costs
Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Hungary, and Iceland have all granted some form of legal recognition to same-sex couples. Same-sex "marriage" has been legal in the Netherlands since 2001, in Belgium since 2003, and in Canada and Spain since 2005.
The most extensive research we have about the effect of same-sex "marriage" on society comes from the Netherlands.
The Netherlands has seen significant changes since the 1980s in its unwed birth rate. Dutch social scientists have observed a correlation between the campagin for same-sex "marriage" and the increasing disconnect between parenting and marriage.
In an interview published in a Dutch newspaper on July 8, 2004, Dr. J.van Loon, a leading sociologist of Nottingham Trent University said, “It’s no coincidence both [the introduction of same-sex marriage and the devaluation of marriage] take place at the same time. Supporters of gay marriage often based their argument…on the separation of marriage and the raising of children. It’s difficult to imagine that an intensive media campaign based on the claim that marriage and parenthood are unrelated and that marriage is just one among a number of morally equivalent cohabiting relationships did not have any serious social consequences.”
Dutch Social Scientists on the Deterioration of Marriage in the Netherlands
Religious Liberty Threats
“…making gay marriage a legal right will likely impose serious constraints on religious speech, assembly and worship; once gay marriage becomes the law, those who oppose it become outlaws.”– A. Picarello, Becket Fund for Religious Liberty (click here to read the whole National Law Journal article.)
There is significant precedent, both foreign and domestic, that points in this direction:
- On March 10, 2006, Catholic Charities of Boston quit providing adoption services when Massachusetts anti-discrimination laws forced them to allow married same-sex couples to adopt, which has been prohibited by church doctrine.
- Swedish Pastor Ake Green was sentenced to jail in June of 2004 for one month having been found guilty of offending homosexuals in a sermon under Sweden’s law against incitement.
- In April of 2004 it became illegal to publicly express disapproval of homosexual behavior in Canada under an amendment to the hate propaganda laws.
On December 15, 2005, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty hosted a private conference of first amendment scholars to assess the religious freedom impacts of legalized same-sex marriage. The details and papers from the event are posted on the Becket Fund website. Maggie Gallagher discussed the event in the cover article "Banned in Boston" of the May 15, 2006 issue Weekly Standard.
Changes in Education
If homosexual relationships can be "marriages," homosexuality could be taught as a part of normal family structures. In early 2006, the California state legislature proposed a bill (AB 2311) that would require homosexuality education in California public schools. On May 3, 2006, the legislature voted against the Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity Program (SEED).
National Public Radio did a feature on changing sex education in Massachusetts. Click here for a complete transcript.
The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network has developed a curriculum to be incorporated in the public schools. Here are a few examples of what your child could be reading. Visit their website www.glsen.org for further information.
In Elementary School:
- Daddy’s Roommate: "A young boy discusses his divorced gay father's new living situation, in which his father and father's partner share eating, doing chores, playing, loving and living."
- Heather Has Two Mommies and its sequel: "Originally published in 1989, Newman created this simple story of a little girl and her two mothers..." The sequel explores the feelings of a "...child when his two mommies separate and break up the family..."
In Junior High and High School:
- Revolutionary Voices: A Multicultural Queer Youth Anthology: "A creative resource for queer and questioning youth of every color... religion... [and] gender, [this is a] collection of experiences, ideas, dreams, and fantasies expressed through prose, poetry..." and creative pieces.
- Rainbow Boys: "Three very different high school boys develop crushes, explore friendships, and discover love in this candid debut novel for adult audiences."
