XII. DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE
It is well documented that children suffer when their parents or caregivers abuse
alcohol and drugs. There are even studies which suggest that smoking may damage children
living with smokers. Substance abuse causes mood swings, violence, verbal abuse, general
instablity, and drains the family's financial resources
There is substantial evidence that homosexual men and women are more likely to abuse
drugs and alcohol. While heterosexual substance abuse declines with age, homosexuals are
more likely to continue abusing substances into their 30's and 40's. Drug and alcohol
abuse are related to sexually irresponsible behavior, in particular, anonymous sex.
Lesbians are far more likely that heterosexual women to smoke, to drink, and to use
illegal drugs.
XIII. OTHER RISKS
Homosexual males are more likely to be interested in pornography and have large
collections of homosexual pornography in their homes. Homosexual are more likely to engage
in sado-maschoism and other extreme sexual behaviors. This kind of behavior in the home
could effect minor children.
XIV. WILL THE CHILDREN BE HOMOSEXUAL?
According to the VPA brief , "Fears about difficulties with sexual identity among
children of gay and lesbian parents have not been supported by results of empirical
research."
The studies produced to support the claim of "empirical research" do not
contain samples large enought to validly answer this question. Another problem with the
studies is that the authors use the discredited Kinsey statistic that 10% of the
population are homosexual as a base. If 10% or less of the children raised by homosexual
parents are themselves homosexual, the authors conclude that homosexual parents do not
produce homosexual children. The percentage of homosexuals in the general population is
not 10%, at most it is under 5% for males, perhaps as low as 3%, and less than 1.5% for
women. This would mean that the studies quoted suggest that homosexual parents are more
likely to have homosexually oriented children. For example, the Bailey study quoted in the
VPA brief found that of 82 adult sons of gay men 10% were gay or bisexual. In the Golombok
study of 25 adults raised by lesbians 2 (8%) were homosexual versus 0% of those raised by
single heterosexual mothers (who are an acknowledge risk group). In addition the Golombok
study found: "children of lesbian mothers were more apt to consider the possibility
of a lesbian or gay relationship." In the Brian Miller study of 48 children of gay
fathers 4 (8%) were homosexual. All these are higher than would be expected if the
percentage of homosexuals in the population is under 5% or as some have studies sugges 3%
for men and 1.5% for women.
XV. EFFECTS ON HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGE
The VPA brief states: "Committed, same sex couples are similar to committed
different sex couples, and marriages between partners of the same sex would be
functionally comparable to marriages between partners of different sexes."
These "marriages" would not be functionally comparable because there is no
way in which the relations between two persons of the same sex can result in the
conception of a child that is biologically related to the two persons.
The state has a legitimate interest in the establishment of legal fatherhood. The
purpose of homosexual marriage is to deny the link between children and their biological
parents and create the fiction of "two mommies."
Man/woman married couples have an interest in defending the connection between fidelity
and marriage. In addition, this connection is essential to the religious concept of
marriage - adultery in most faiths is considered as a serious offense not only against the
spouse but also against religious precepts.
Within the male homosexuality community, there is little support for sexual fidelity.
In fact, some apologists for homosexual marriage consider the lack of fidelity as an
advantage to homosexual men. On the other hand, sexual exclusivity and fidelity are
considered as an essential part of the marriage covenant and the state has generally
regarded marital infidelity negatively. The creation of a class of marriages in which
infidelity would be regarded as acceptable undermines the very concept of marriage and the
protections of the bond of marriage.
VPA brief ignores evidence of problems found in homosexual relationships presented in
the very articles they use as references. According to the Kurdek (1986), homosexual couples reported "more
frequent relationship dissolution." While Duffy (1985) claims that: "The close relationships of
lesbians, gay men, and heterosexual women and men are really quite similar, driven by
similar general forces," the same article reports striking differences between
homosexual and heterosexuals. According to Duffy, only 41% of homosexual men said that
their current relations was monogamous, versus 76% of heterosexual men (marital status not
included) and 88% of heterosexual women. In addition, "The lowest levels of
investment and commitment, as well as duration of current and longest relationships, were
reported by gay males."
XVI. THE HOMOPHOBIA DEFENSE
When faced with irrefutable evidence of problems associated with the homosexuality, the
advocates for homosexuality argue that whatever problems may exist are caused by
homophobia, heterosexism, and general discrimination against homosexuals. The researchers
frequently dismiss evidence of negative outcomes -- infidelity, drug usage, relationship
dissolution -- as the result of the pressures placed on homosexuals by society. Evidence
of such a causal relationship is rarely offered.
If discrimination caused pathology would expect to see more pathology among homosexuals
in small conservative communities where homosexuality is not accepted and little or no
pathology in communities where the homosexual life style is fully accepted and applauded.
In fact the reverse is true. The rates of HIV infection, multiple partners, and substance
abuse are substantially higher in the homosexual friendly urban enclaves - San Francisco,
South Beach, Florida, New York City,
The supporters of homosexual marriage argue that allowing homosexuals to marry would
eliminate homophobia and heterosexism and that this would in turn promote the health and
psychological well-being of homosexuals.
Even if one were to accept the unproved hypothesis that the excess pathology observable
among homosexuals were caused by homophobia and heterosexism, the removal of these forces
would require far more than acceptance of homosexual marriage.
Heterosexism is built into the very core of society. To remove all homophobia and
heterosexism as defined by the homosexual community would require societal changes on
scale not contemplated since the Russian revolution. All religions which regard homosexual
acts as sinful would have change their teachings or be silenced. All parents who want
heterosexual children would have to be re-educated. Every language would have to be
changed to eliminate the heterosexist bias. The universal tendency of children to gender
norm would have to be suppressed. All persons who claim to have changed sexual orientation
would have to recant and all such therapy would be declared unethical. All legal codes
would have to changed to eliminate laws which favor heterosexuals. History, literature,
children's stories, and all forms of social communication would have to be rewritten.
Anti-homophobia education would have to be introduced at every level of the educational
process. Non-compliance with hate-speech restrictions would have to be severely punished.
While such a project may seem impossible, the Deconstructionist ideology favored by
many homosexual activists is founded on the conviction that total societal change as not
only possible, but essential. Legalizing homosexual marriage is just one part of their
agenda.
The recent New Jersey Supreme Court decision requiring the Boy Scouts to employ
homosexual scout leaders is an example of the imposition of anti-homophobia legislation on
private institutions. In their decision the justices characterized the Boy Scouts defense
of God and morality "prejudice", "bigotry," and "invidious
discrimination."
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