Same-Sex Marriages - Assignment Example

?Same-Sex Marriages Should Not Be Allowed in Canada Same-sex marriage is a term that is globally used for a marriage between two people that belong to the same gender biologically that is socially recognized. Majority of the people use the term “gay marriage” for this. Canada is one of the countries in which same-sex marriage has been legalized. Other countries that have legalized same-sex marriages include Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Belgium. This has spurred debate on whether same-sex marriages should or should not be banned and the debate has not reached any conclusion to date. Same-sex marriages raise a lot of issues in the society when analyzed particularly from the sociological perspective. Many people do not have a stance against the legalization of same-sex marriages in Canada. They do not have a positive view of it either; they think that since marriage establishes a relationship between the couple, it does not have any impact on their lives. However, from a sociological perspective, when marriage is redefined so as to include homosexual relationships also in its definition, it affects the society as a whole since marriage has the status of a public institution. One of the major claims raised by the proponents of same sex marriages is that there is no difference in the quality of parenting between same sex marriages and straight marriages. Sociologists Tim Biblarz and Judith Stacey noted in an article published in American Sociological Review in the year 2001 that although outcomes differ to some extent between the children raised under same-sex marriages and straight marriages, the differences are not as substantial as they might be expected by the family sociologists. (Stacey and Biblarz) also asserted that any differences identified may not be necessarily interpreted as deficits. Since then, comparative research on same-sex parenting has created the conventional wisdom that differences in the outcomes between children raised by same-same couples and heterosexual couples are very few. “[A] rapidly growing and highly consistent body of empirical work has failed to identify significant differences between lesbian mothers and their heterosexual counterparts or the children raised by these groups. Researchers have been unable to establish empirically that detriment results to children from being raised by lesbian mother” (Falk 151). Judith Stacey, who has Streisand Professorship in the Studies of Comparative Gender said, “We found that despite the ‘no differences’ mantra, many studies do report evidence of some intriguing differences, and even of some potential advantages of lesbian parenthood…A difference is not necessarily a deficit” (Stacey cited in Silsby). In response to these claims, Mark Regnerus, a Texas based sociologist did a comprehensive research in which a random, large, and national sample was used whose scope was unprecedented compared to all previous research in this area. As a result of his study, Regnerus (2012) reached the conclusion that in a vast majority of cases, children raised in families where the parents have same-sex relationships perform drastically poor compared to children that are raised by their biological parents. An important point to note here is that these findings do not necessarily suggest that same-sex couples are bad at parenting. However, these findings certainly challenge the claim that there exists no difference in the quality of parenting between same-sex marriages and straight marriages. Legalization of same-sex marriages weakens this institution. History provides many examples of this. Legislation of the same-sex marriages in Spain in the year 2005 resulted in plummeting of the marriage rates (Vogt). The rates of marriage saw an identical decline in the Netherlands after the legalization of same-sex marriages. The purpose and meaning of marriage is obscured with its redefinition and people are discouraged from getting married consequently. Legalization of same-sex marriages affects both parenting and education. After the legalization of same-sex marriages in Canada, the curriculum was modified by the Toronto School Board in a way that it denounced heterosexism and promoted homosexuality. Homosexual and heterosexual relationships were established to be equal with such titles as “Love Knows No Gender” (Vogt) in the posters. When the parents raised objections to the modified curriculum and such titles, the Toronto School Board decreed that they were not allowed to draw their children away from these instructions. This suggests that with the redefinition of marriage, children are forced to accept the new definition even if that goes against the desires of their parents. Children are essentially placed into a state of dilemma where they either have to compromise upon their family and religious values if they accept the curriculum and gay friendly activities in school or if they stick to their family and religious values, their participation in studies and activities in school is compromised. Legalization of same-sex marriages poses threats to the religious and moral liberty. A potential example of this is that Catholic Charities in Washington D.C. and Massachusetts are not able to offer the charitable services of adoption in light of the new definition of marriage that has emerged with the legalization of same-sex marriages. Likewise, the Alberta Human Rights Commission investigated Frederick Henry, the Canadian Bishop for having explained the teachings of the Catholic Church regarding homosexuality in a column published in a newspaper. In an email from Calgary, Henry described a bizarre events’ series in these words, “Human rights laws, designed as a shield, are now being used as a sword… The issue is rarely true discrimination but rather censorship and enshrinement of a particular ideology through threats, sanctions and punitive measures… I challenged one by one the standard arguments used to support same sex unions as the equivalent of traditional marriage… I believe these complaints were an attempt to intimidate and silence me” (Henry cited in Gyapong). Joanne McGary, executive director of the Catholic Civil Rights League criticized the use of human rights commission as a tool against the people who have unpopular opinions. In an interview that she gave from Toronto, McGarry said, “The League is concerned about this disturbing trend, since it often involves opinions based on religious beliefs… As a civil rights organization, we recognize that freedom expression and freedom of religious expression are two of the most important values for Canadians…We think the use of human rights tribunals to penalize the peaceable expression of religious viewpoints is a misuse of their original purpose” (McGarry cited in Gyapong). This explains how religious freedom is threatened by the legalization of same-sex marriages. Concluding, same-sex marriage poses a lot of threats to the Canadian society and the moral values on which it is based today as it has been legalized in Canada. From the sociological perspective, the effects of same-sex marriages are not limited to the lives of the couple but extend and reach each and every member of the society. To start with, same-sex marriages introduce differences in the development of the children raised by same-sex parents and those raised by their biological parents. Same-sex marriages weaken the institution of marriage because of the modification made in the definition of marriage resulting in a decline in the marriage rate. Legalization of same-sex marriages leaves children with no option but to endorse the gay friendly curriculum and school activities even if it is against their religious or family values. Legalization of same-sex marriages also poses a lot of threats to religious liberty in the society. In-depth analysis of the sociological perspectives on the subject of same-sex marriages suggests that a majority of the sociologists mutually consent that the demerits of same-sex marriages far outweigh its merits. In light of these reasons, legalization of same-sex marriages in Canada should be condemned and the government should ban same-sex marriages in Canada. Works Cited: Falk, Patrick J. “The Gap Between Psychosocial Assumptions and Empirical Research in Lesbian-Mother Child Custody Cases.” in Redefining Families: Implications for Children's Development, edited by A. E. Gottfried and A. W. Gottfried. New York: Plenum. 1994. Print. Gyapong, Deborah. “Bishop Henry calls for overhaul of human rights commissions.” Catholic Civil Rights League. 30 July 2013. Web. 31 July 2013. . Regnerus, Mark. “How different are the adult children of parents who have same-sex relationships? Findings from the New Family Structures Study.” Social Science Research 41.4 2012: 752-770. Silsby, Gilien. “Sociology: Study examines gender roles of children with gay parents.” USC News. 30 May 2001. Web. 31 July 2013. . Stacey, Judith, and Biblarz, Timothy J. “(How) Does the Sexual Orientation of Parents Matter?” American Sociological Review 66.2 2001: 159-183. Vogt, Brandon. “Rebuttals to arguments for same-sex marriage.” Our Sunday Visitor. 13 Jan. 2013. 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