| Correspondance |
| After visiting the DA*DI website, I wrote to a member in order to better understand his point of view on a few of the issues that interested me. I also commented on some of the things I had been taught in class, and pointed out that several research studies are in conflict with the material presented on DA*DI's website. Here is the rather short-lived correspondance I carried on with this DA*DI member (whom I have kept anonymous). April 6, 2002 To whom it may concern, I am a college freshman in Developmental Psychology. I plan on doing a researh project on the subject of homosexual parenting/adoption. I reviewed a few articles on your website, and what I have read surprised me greatly. I cannot believe that someone living in the United States could be so close minded on this subject. If a gay couple wants to adopt a child, who is to tell them that they have no right to do so? I acknowledge the fact that empirical evidence on this matter does have its flaws. However, the same criticism you apply to these studies that have shown that children raised by gays are no more likely to be gay then those raised by single parents, can be applied to the statemtent you make claiming that being raised by gay parents DOES make you gay. It has been estimated that up to 10% of the population may be gay, which refutes the claim you make on your website that only 2% of the population is. This is misleading when compared to rates of homosexuality in a study done on homosexual parenting that showed 12% had gay children after the fact. Despite the criticism I may have for the technical information your website contains, what bothers me the most is the perpetuation of myths to the general public. You say that there is a greater chance that homosexual parents will sexually abuse their children. This seems to be completley biased, and its only purpose on your webpage is to perpetuate the myth that homosexuals are sexually deviant, child molesting "things". Would it be any more fair to say that an African American faimly was unfit to raise children? Or that an Atheist family was unfit to raise children because they would not be brought up with the appropriate "morals" that you have deemed necessary for healthy development? You insist on oppressing people for what they are, just as some people are black, other people are homosexual. They are the way they are because of biology and environmental influences growing up. This brings me to my final point. WHY IS IT SO BAD TO HAVE GAY CHILDREN? Let's say, for the sake of argument, that gay parents do in fact raise children that statistically are more often homosexual then the general population. So what? How does that really damage a child's development? Does it make him or her any less healthy to prefer the same sex? Sexual identity isn't just one thing, it's a continuum. Gay, straight, bisexual...it shouldn't matter to anyone what someone's sexual orientation is. Even if you yourself (or your organization) are uncomfortable with the idea of homosexuals raising children, how do you have the right to mandate who is fit to raise a child? Couldn't some drug addict go out inot the streets, get pregnant, and wind up pregnant with a baby 9 months later? Who's there stopping her from raising that child? Why, if two parents are willing to raise a child, are there people preventing them from doing so? The last thing I want to do is push my own morals upon you. You are entitled to your own opinon, just like everyone else. I myself am not gay, but I feel very strongly that those that are should not have their rights taken away from them just because of their sexual orientation. To me, it's the same thing as the civil rights movement all over again, only this time we should be fighting for equality for those with a different sexual orientation. Teaching children to fear, hate, stay away from gays is a mistake. It perpetuates hateful stereotypes. I hope that SOMETHING in this 'letter' gets through to you, and that you actually take the time to read it, as I have put a lot of thought into it. As I said, I don't want to change your mind, I only hope to open it a little. Thank you for your time. Amanda Morris April 7, 2002 Amanda, Why do you employ the affection of posing a question when your intent is to present you lecture...a lecture which is totally lacking in empirical validity; unless one considers "seems", "so what", and personal opinion as all the validation needed. When you have your doctorate, 5-10,000 hours in providing therapy consultation, and have observed 10s of thousands of young men and women dying of a behaviorally preventable disease at a premature age, perhaps your assessments will change. Meanwhile, best wishes. April 7, 2002 To whom it may concern, I am sorry if you misconstrued the intent of my letter to you. I did not have a question to ask, I simply meant to give you some information that I have received in class which contradicts the information on your website. Furthermore, I am offended that you have written me off as a stupid kid, and then have chosen to throw your list of credentials in my face. For your information, I attend a very prestigious university, and I have been working for Wayne State University for 5 years, 6 including this coming summer. I do not have thousands of hours of clinical experience, but that does not effect my own moral reasoning. It is my opinion that the close minded view on homosexuality your generation has will die out. My generation is more accepting of so called "sexual deviance". We re the future, we can change things. Maybe you'll be the one to inspire me to go into politics so I can make my opinions heard. Thank you for that. I am making a web page for my class which discusses the evidence for and against homosexual parenting, and I will like to reference your website on my page. If you would like me to add any kind of statment that you may have on this issue, feel free to contact me. Sincerely, Amanda Morris April 7, 2002 Still scolding, eh Amanda? |