Lisa’s Generation Relations Blog

Hi All,

Lots happening in San Francisco lately with the Proposition 8 federal lawsuit challenging California’s same-sex marriage ban. And today, Michael Lamb, a Cambridge University psychologist, undercut the questioning of the Prop 8 sponsors opposed to gay marriage by testifying that children raised by same-sex parents are as well-adjusted and safe from abuse as kids who grow up with a mother and father.

The article about today’s events, and those of the past 5 days of the trial, also includes:

“For a significant number of these children, their adjustment would be promoted were their parents able to get married,” developmental psychologist Michael Lamb said while undercutting arguments made by sponsors of Proposition 8, the anti-gay marriage ballot measure passed in 2008. 

Lamb said there was no evidence that children with gay parents were more likely to become gay themselves or become victims of sexual abuse or incest. 

In addition, he said no evidence exists that gays or lesbians were more likely to sexually abuse children. 

“We have a substantial body of evidence documenting that a child being raised by same-sex parents are just as likely to be well-adjusted as children raised by heterosexual parents,” Lamb said. 

Lamb testified as part of a lawsuit by two gay couples aimed at overturning Proposition 8. 

Sponsors of the measure have said restricting marriage to a man and woman can be justified by the need to foster procreation and to make sure that children are raised by their biological parents. 

The trial, in its fifth day, is the first in federal court to determine if efforts to stop gays from marrying violates their constitutional rights.

I find this whole thing ridiculous. I’m gay, and my partner of 10 years and I have a 3.5 year old son. He is smart, well-adjusted, outgoing, compassionate, giving & loving with other children, speaks 2 languages, and is “all boy” in terms of loving sports, trucks, etc.

It baffles my mind that in 2010 we’re still having these types of ridiculous issues, but at least we’re making progress for human rights. Granted this whole Prop 8 set back in CA was a shock (of all states to ban it…hello??), however I believe, eventually, it will go through.

But to have the trial questioning even put me in the same category as a pedophile just because I’m gay, is beyond insulting. And to put a gay man in that category just because he’s gay is a total insult. Men (and women) who like to prey on children has nothing to do with being gay…it’s about dominance…and mental illness. Just like rape isn’t about “sex”.

Thank god the latest research shows that a majority of Millennials think gay marriage is no big deal and should be legal. I think this generation will finally be the one that gets us all past this…so we can focus our resources on important things like hunger in America, healthcare for everyone, etc.

Bye for now,

Lisa