I think we must begin by examining the purpose<\/em> of parenting. SSM opponents\u00a0like\u00a0to talk a lot about instilling ‘values’\u00a0in their kids, and though they’d like us to think that values have\u00a0something\u00a0to do with the purpose of parenting, historically that’s simply not true. Many creatures parent their young, not just humans, and yet we cannot speak meaningfully to a chipmunk, cat, tarantula, or seagull instilling ‘values’ in their young. In fact, the entire\u00a0language\u00a0of values is a modern-day attempt to redefine parenting away from what it’s meant for literally\u00a0millions of years.<\/p>\n So if parenting isn’t\u00a0about\u00a0values what is it about? Quite simply, parenting is about preparing children for the future and preparing children to join the world. This is true no matter the era, culture, or even species of the parent. So if parenting is about preparing children for the future, does teaching your children homophobia do that? It’s clear that the answer is no.<\/p>\n Acceptance of SSM is on the rise. Acceptance of GLBT\u00a0Americans\u00a0is on the rise. If only people under the age of 30 voted, Same Sex Marriage would be legal in all but 12 states. Check it out:<\/p>\n Additionally, earlier this year marks the first time that a majority of Americans favor legal Same Sex Marriage:<\/p>\n Thus, if\u00a0parenting\u00a0consists of preparing your children for the world to come, it is not clear that Same Sex Marriage opponents are actually parenting.<\/em>\u00a0By teaching intolerance, they’re preparing their children for a world that simply\u00a0has either has stopped existing or is soon going to. Thus, the entire concept of opponents of Same Sex Marriage parenting children is logically impossible. They may ape some of the forms, and I have no doubt that\u00a0they\u00a0believe that they love their ‘children,’ but whatever they think<\/em> they’re doing, they’re not parenting.<\/p>\n Loving Your Children<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong>One thing that almost everyone can agree is a component of parenting is treating your children with love. Across most animals, and certainly<\/em>\u00a0across mammals, there is an emotional aspect to parenting, a part that’s about the affection and love for your children.<\/p>\n And yet, by opposing Same Sex Marriage, the opponents are standing up to block<\/em>\u00a0a loving relationship. If they don’t believe that love is necessary in a healthy marriage (and indeed, many of them believe that GLBT individuals ought to enter sham, loveless straight-seeming-marriages just to preserve the form), I don’t think it’s unreasonable to consider whether or not these people are truly able to love at all. And if, in fact, they’re unable to love, isn’t it better for everyone if their children are taken from them and placed with people who are at least capable<\/em> of giving them the love they need?<\/p>\n Opposing<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0SSM is Sexually Creepy<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong>Something that’s struck me for years about Same Sex Marriage Opponents is that they don’t particularly seem to grasp the concept of consent. Over and over again I see arguments about how same-sex marriage is inherently damaging, and about how it stunts the full emotional growth of the participants … without acknowledgment that nobody is in a same sex marriage nonconsensually.<\/p>\n You see the same thing when it comes to their attitude about non-heterosexual sexual activity. Many opponents of SSM have historically favored the criminalization of sodomy or voted for those who did, like former President George W. Bush, who campaigned on it. Once again, we see a lack of\u00a0understanding\u00a0of the importance of consent as a moral calculus.<\/p>\n Furthermore, opposition to Same Sex Marriage seems to illustrate an unhealthy obsession with- and desire to control the- sexual activity of strangers. Considering this, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to consider whether Same Sex Marriage opponents can be trusted around children. Now, I’m not saying that we can assume<\/em> that all opponents of SSM molest their children. Of course, that’s not true. I don’t think we can ignore the question, though … I mean, here’s a group of people who seem to want to control the sexuality of strangers and don’t have any\u00a0understanding\u00a0of consent. It’s not unreasonable to ask how they might conduct themselves sexually towards those who are unable of consent.<\/p>\n And it’s not unreasonable to make sure that we play it safe by removing their children from a potentially abusive situation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now, I respect that this conversation could be painful for opponents of Same Sex Marriage to participate in. After all, we’re talking about taking their children from them because they’re unfit to care for them. Still, like I said, I think it’s important to have the conversation, and I think we can have it civilly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And yes. Of course this is satire<\/a>.<\/p>\n (Post edited thanks to Gin-and-Whiskey’s feedback)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I think that as our understanding of what it means to be a parent evolves and our understanding of how damaging homophobia is evolves, we must consider the possibility that opponents of Same Sex Marriage are, by teaching their children … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/andrewgelman.com\/movabletype\/mlm\/marriagebyage.png\")
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