Same-Sex Families

Paper Summary:

The word family typically conjures up the image of an ideal household of two parents of opposite sex and their children. The paper shows that gay men and lesbians who seek to legalize their relationships in same-sex unions or gain custody of their children often face an uphill battle in their effort to form a family. Although gay men and lesbians merely want to exercise the rights enjoyed by heterosexual couples, conservatives view their effort to legalize same-sex unions as a campaign as a strategy to spread the practice of homosexuality and thus affect public morality. The paper shows that essentially, for the conservatives, the traditional definition of a family that has endured for over 6,000 years is at stake.

From the Paper:

"Various studies comparing the parenting styles of homosexual and heterosexual parents and the children's development in homosexual and heterosexual households have not been able to validate stereotypical conceptions of homosexual partners as inadequate parents. In fact, the studies frequently show that gay men and lesbians display a greater capacity for parenting (McNeill 3). Furthermore, studies on parent-children relationships have shown that gay fathers are more sensitive towards their children and try harder to be a better parent because of their own experiences (McNeill 7). Ultimately, these studies corroborate the fact that there are many same-sex couples who lead responsible and monogamous lives. The stereotypical perception of gay men and lesbians essentially denies the existence of committed same-sex couples who have formed a "family" for years, like many other heterosexual families."

More papers on Same-Sex Families:

• Argumentative Essay # 144227 : "Same Sex Marriage"
• Argumentative Essay # 4671 : "Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage"
• Argumentative Essay # 99052 : "Same-Sex Marriage"

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