Postition Paper

Rachel Byrd
Revised Organizational Feature

12-1-2014
History The rise in percentile support for same-sex marriage in America has
been more exponential than that of any other public policy occurring in the
last decade. A new national survey finds that much of this shift is
attributable to the arrival of a large cohort of young adults the Millennial
Generation who are far more open to gay rights than previous generations.
Equally important, however, is that 14% of all Americans and 28% of gay
marriage supporters say they have changed their minds on this issue in
favor of gay marriage. The long-term shift in the publics views about samesex marriage is unambiguous. Polling conducted in 2003 found most
Americans (58%) opposed to allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally,
and just a third (33%) in favor. The new survey by the Pew Research Center,
conducted March 13-17, 2013 among 1,501 adults nationwide, confirms that
these figures have crossed, with 49% supporting same-sex marriage, and
44% opposed. The new survey finds 70% of Millennials born since 1980 and
age 18-32 today in favor of same-sex marriage.
About one-in-five Americans have shifted their view from opposition to
support in regards to Gay marriage. With a nation-wide, significant changeof-heart comes an inevitable shift in both cultural norms and the ideal
structure of a typical family. Many wonder if the biologically impossible
nature of same-sex marriages, in regards to reproduction, should serve as a

warning when deciding if these couples are ideal to raise healthy children
together. The main public query wonders if it is necessary to have parental
guidance from both gender roles for optimal brain development and, if so,
can same-sex parents fill the roles historically associated with typical child
rearing.
The Media Research Institute seeks to answer these questions and to
ultimately discover if the brain development of children homo-sexually
parented homes will be affected if indeed a hetero-sexual model is
advantageous. If this is the case, research will be necessary to address
needs of these children in regards to academics, i.e. tutoring.
Position The Media Research Institute hypothesizes, according to wellknown M.R.I. researcher Dr. Lee, that Children from traditional homes have a
developmental advantage over children with same-sex parents. While our
studies have not yet gone into depth on this issue, we theorize that children
living in historically-typical families, with both a female and a male parent,
have more robust brain development in relation to technology, than children
with same-sex parents. Dr. Lee went on to say, We will be furthering our
research in this area by electronically tracking the brain development of
select children, as well as receiving feedback from approved psychologists
The Media Research seeks to shed light on any obstacles encountered, in
order to better prepare same-sex couples for child-rearing and ensure
children from these unions get additional attention, if needed. This may be
done through:
Providing a healthy example of either a woman or a man in the

childrens lives (depending on which sex is lacking from the parental
unit), to serve as a role-model.

Promotion of developmentally appropriate educational programs
tailored to meet the childs needs for explanations, technological
training, cultural awareness, and knowledge of the world around them.

Specialized one-one-one time with psychologists who can help the
child understand his/her family dynamics in order to accept and
appreciate the differences.
We should disavow the notion that mommies can make good daddies, just
as we should disavow the popular notion of radical feminists that daddies
can make good mommies. The two sexes are different to the core, and
each is necessary culturally and biologically for the optimal development
of a human being. (David Popenoe, Life Without Father: Compelling New
Evidence That Fatherhood and Marriage are Indispensable of the Good of
Children and Society, (New York: The Free Press, 1996), p. 197).
During early childhood, the foundation is laid for future social, emotional,
cognitive, and physical development. During these formative years, we
should ensure children from same-sex marriages understand their
circumstances and are provided with the same dynamic gender roles and
points of view in order to be given an equal chance at success.
A persuasive body of research shows that children do not do as well when

their mothers or fathers divorce and re-marry other people. Since it is
biologically impossible for a child living in a same-sex home to be living with
both natural parents, all same-sex homes may be considered step-like in the
way they affect children.
Social scientists used to believe that, for positive child outcomes,
stepfamilies were preferable to single-parent families. Today, we are not so
sure. Stepfamilies typically have an economic advantage, but some recent
studies indicate that the children of stepfamilies have as many behavioral
and emotional problems as the children of single-parent families, and
possibly more. Stepfamily problems, in short, may be so intractable that
the best strategy for dealing with them is to do everything possible to
minimize their occurrence. (David Popenoe, The Evolution of Marriage and
the Problems of Stepfamilies, in Alan Booth and Judy Dunn, eds.,
Stepfamilies: Who Benefits? Who Does Not? (Hillsdale, N.J.: Lawrence
Erlbaum Associates, 1994), 5, 19.)
There has been no reliable research suggesting children from same-sex
marriages do as well as those from heterosexual marriages. If we are to know
anything objectively useful, then the family structure of the homosexual
homes must be compared and contrasted to that of the heterosexual homes.
So far, nothing specific about the quality or health-outcomes of lesbian- or
gay-led homes has been found because some not all forms of heterosexualparented homes can be considered healthy.
In order to obtain solid results, the Media Research Institute plans to put both
hetero and homosexual led families through a lengthy screening process,
measuring: values, quality of marriage, socio-economic status and
psychological health. The M.R.I will select five, psychologically healthy, twoparent families from both categories of sexual orientation. These families will
then be monitored and studied over the course of ten years. During this
time, the children of these families will undergo weekly psychological
evaluation. Likewise, their grades, social tendencies and technological
capabilities will be measured.
Opposing Argument The argument can be made that subjecting children
to lengthy social research may be unethical. The experiment would be
untested; therefore, there is a chance it runs the risk of doing more damage
than good. The Media Research Institute may prove their theory to be true
and uncover learning disadvantages in order to aid the greater good only to
damage the children from the ten families studied. Additionally, while it is
true there are no reliable research results proving children from same-sex
marriages do as well as those from traditional families, there is also a lack in
data suggesting they do worse. Developmental advantages in children may
be directly related to biology or eagerness of the parents, both traditional
and same-sex, to invest the resources (time, love, energy, money) necessary
to foster growth in their children.
How can the Media Research Institute research this topic ethically?
In order to obtain answers to their questions ethically, the Media Research

Institute should build a system which utilizes unbiased psychologists and
social workers who will monitor the testing in order to ensure it stays within
healthy boundaries for the children. They should also take measures to
ensure their studies do as little as possible to interfere the in lives of those
they observe.
What can same-sex parents do to ensure developmental equality?
It is highly recommended that same-sex parents speak with teachers to
ensure they (the parents) are aware how their childrens technological skills
and academic performance measures up to their peers. Parents should
provide their children with opportunities to speak to psychologists and should
seek private tutoring, if necessary.
Works Cited
"Growing Support for Gay Marriage: Changed Minds and Changing

Demographics." Growing Support for Gay Marriage: Changed Minds
and Changing Demographics. Pew Research Center, 20 Mar. 2013.
Web. 09 Nov. 2014.
Stanton, Glenn T., "Are Children with Same-Sex Parents at a

Disadvantage?" Facts About Youth. American College of Pediatrictians,
n.d. Web. 8 Nov. 2014.

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Rachel Byrd

Revised Organizational Feature

nature of same-sex marriages, in regards to reproduction, should serve as a

Providing a healthy example of either a woman or a man in the

unit), to serve as a role-model.

training, cultural awareness, and knowledge of the world around them.

A persuasive body of research shows that children do not do as well when

In order to obtain answers to their questions ethically, the Media Research

"Growing Support for Gay Marriage: Changed Minds and Changing

Stanton, Glenn T., "Are Children with Same-Sex Parents at a

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