Sunday, May 13, 2012

Same Sex Marriage - For Obama, It’s About the Children

The far right and the Christofascists blather on and on how same sex marriage "deprives children of a mother and father."  Never mind, of course, that many children already don't have both a mother and father in their lives or that leaving children in foster homes causes incredible damage to children.  And then there are all of the children being raised by same sex couples.  These children likewise are not going to somehow magically disappear if same sex marriage is barred.  Yet from the view of the Christofascists and their political whores in the GOP, it's better to punish these children and leave them without financial security and in many cases health care coverage than allow their parents to have CIVIL law marriage rights.  This contempt for children, of course, is not limited to children of same sex parents since the Christofascists also generally support the draconian GOP budget proposals that would punish the poor and needy, including children, while giving the wealthy huge tax breaks.  It's a bizarre world view for those who claim to be "Christians" but whom utterly ignore most of the Gospels' message.  It's a reason why I increasingly view Christians as best known for their hate and callousness towards others.  The New York Times looks at how the needs of children has played into Barack Obama's endorsement of same sex marriage:

[L]ast week, President Obama announced his support for same-sex marriage. As he discussed his journey toward that position, the president sounded many familiar themes, like the importance of distinguishing between civil and religious marriage and of living up to American ideals of fairness. At the core of his narrative, however, was a relatively novel element — an affirmation of gay couples as parents.

The president repeatedly attributed his “evolution” to his contact not only with gay couples but also with their children. He described thinking about staff members “who are incredibly committed, in monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together.” He discussed meeting same-sex couples and seeing “how caring they are, how much love they have in their hearts — how they’re taking care of their kids.”

Later in the interview, he wondered whether opponents of same-sex marriage had “had the experience that I have had in seeing same-sex couples who are as committed, as monogamous, as responsible — as loving a group of parents as any heterosexual couple that I know. And in some cases, more so.”

The president’s invocation of children as a reason to support same-sex marriage is striking. His position may be controversial among some gay individuals, who, like some straight individuals, do not want their right to marry to be linked in any way to procreation. Yet a strong justification for the president’s stance can be found in the argument it implicitly seeks to rebut. Traditionally, the well-being of children has appeared squarely on the other side of the ledger, functioning as the prime secular argument against same-sex marriage.

The problem with characterizing same-sex marriage as being solely about “companionship and personal fulfillment” is that it suggests that same-sex couples will not become parents. Yet according to the 2010 census, one-quarter of same-sex households are raising children.

The president has asserted that gay parenting is something to be affirmed, rather than denigrated. In doing so, he has used the largest bully pulpit in the nation to assert that concern for children is a reason to support, rather than to oppose, same-sex marriage.

By supporting same sex marriage and showing concern for the children of same sex couples, Obama - in my view - has demonstrated that he's a far better Christian than those who wrap themselves in religiosity and wear their religion on their sleeves and then proceed to make hatred and fear and outright meanness the hallmarks of their supposed religious faith.

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