What are some sociological effects of Same Sex Marriage?

Question

For Research Paper for School

Answer 1

Opinions of what the sociological effects of same sex marriage are vary according to who you ask.

The Right Wing extremists would tell you that it will destroy society.

However, looking briefly at countries that have same sex marriage already, you will find that the effect is non-existent. Sociologically it may help stabilize gay couples -- but my partner and I have been together for 15 years on the second of January -- and we are quite content as we are -- couples are really stable or not based on their own beliefs and commitment to one another -- having a "title" (oh we are married) doesn't really have any effect except perhaps making people who are not compatible and should be separated stay together a year or two longer than they should.

I've given you some links to documents that may be of help to you below (you will need a pdf reader for some of them, Acrobat or Foxit are best). If you need to talk further, please feel free to email me so that we can talk directly, I'll help in whatever way I can.

Good thoughts,

Reynolds Jones
[e-mail]

PS In reference to the person above who quotes the "statistics" regarding the children of gay couples -- those statistics match NO statistics I've seen from a peer reviewed source. I supect that the author of the answer took the results of a non-peer reviewed study, probably funded by an extremist organization, and presented those statistics as facts. S/he may have even created the researchers out of whole cloth -- I can't say that for sure, I just did a google search for the names, with and without Harvard University attached, and found nothing -- and frankly, I can't imagine two well known scientists from Harvard not coming up with hundreds of hits -- so maybe they are real and maybe they aren't, but the facts s/he presents aren't facts. This link goes to a CBS story on children raised by same sex couples: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/12/health/webmd/main938234.shtml . It is worth your time to read the article I think -- to balance what the gentle attempted to assert.

Thanks again.

Answer 2

Try doing some research on Canada, they have same sex marriage, and it doesn't seem to have had any meaningful effects at all there. One of the biggest obstacles is that many Christians don't want them to use the word "marriage", and that has become a major issue, "legal recognition of same sex union" is a bit cumbersome, but better defines the issue.

Answer 3

There are some really well written books on this subject:

CASE FOR SAME SEX MARRIAGE: From Sexual Liberty to Civilized Commitment by William N. Eskridge

Same-sex Marriage: The Moral And Legal Debate (Contemporary Issues (Prometheus)) by Robert M. Baird and Stuart E. Rosenbaum (Paperback - Sep 30, 2004)

America's Struggle for Same-Sex Marriage by Daniel R. Pinello (Hardcover - May 22, 2006)

The Challenge of Same-Sex Marriage: Federalist Principles and Constitutional Protections by Mark Strasser (Hardcover - Sep 30, 1999)

Equality for Same-Sex Couples: The Legal Recognition of Gay Partnerships in Europe and the United States by Yuval Merin (Paperback - Jul 15, 2002)

Civil Wars: A Battle for Gay Marriage by David Moats

Same-Sex Unions in Premodern Europe (Vintage) by John Boswell

Marriage and Same-Sex Unions: A Debate by Lynn D. Wardle, Mark Strasser, William C. Duncan, and David Orgon Coolidge

Same Sex, Different States: When Same-Sex Marriages Cross State Lines by Andrew Koppelman

Same-Sex Marriage: The Personal and the Political by Kevin Alderson and Kathleen A. Lahey

Why Marriage?: The history shaping today's debate over gay equality by George Chauncey

Defending Same-Sex Marriage: Three Volumes] by Traci C. West, Martin Dupuis, William A. Thompson, and Mark Strasser

In Support of Same-Sex Marriage and Gay Rights in America by Thomas J. Schuh

Same sex marriage: A basic right by Valerie J. Biscardi

On the Road to Same-Sex Marriage: A Supportive Guide to Psychological, Political, and Legal Issues by Robert P. Cabaj and David W. Purcell

Answer 4

There aren't a lot left to work out. Wills and Living Will take care of most of it., you can get life and medical insurance with anyone you wish and most states allow gays to adopt but only as singles. If one adopts and then they break up, the one who signed the paper has all the rights and the other doesn't have any. Marriage would only make divorce less messy.

Answer 5

Raybert and Gaines Behaviorists, Harvard; did a five year study on thirteen (13) Gay Couples rearing adopted kids from 9 to 13 years old.

86% percent of all these subjects had one form of Attention Deficit Disorder ranging from hyperactivity to actual depression.

It seems the results were uniform and consistent. The moment external socialization begins the conflicts become enormous and consequently these children are almost all (86%) maladjusted.

Unless these "couples" move to saturated Gay communities and live relatively isolated, their children otherwise will be most like to have socialization disorders.

Answer 6

you may wanna watch :

Raising Teens (2005)
My Parents Are Gay (2006)

hope it might helps...