Saturday, December 24, 2011

Message from Me: Seasons Greetings!

It has been a BUSY month, and it is so close to 2012... I can't believe how fast December is passing by. With exams, the holiday season, shopping for gifts and spending time with friends and family, my blog has been neglected!


2012 is looking promising for a lot of the people I have interviewed for this blog and for many of those advocates and activists that I've had the pleasure of meeting. 
In the new year, I hope to update you on what HeartBeatsTO have been up to in 2011 since we last chatted. Along with that, some new and exciting interviews and some more posts on what is going on in the world, and what is being ignored...!


Thank you for your e-mails on comments and suggestions about what topics to cover on the blog, I encourage you to keep sending the e-mails, even if it is a quick line or two to bcshesaidso@gmail.com and let me know.




I hope all of you enjoy this holiday season... Many blessings to you and yours. 

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Gay Parents CAN Parent

I don't think anyone can argue with me when I say that the sexual orientation of any individual is NOT a determinant of how successful they can be as parents. To argue that a gay couple cannot provide a child with above adequate love, nurture and other necessities is a weak argument based solely on a social division, and has no convincing premise. 
To say that two people cannot marry because they don't fit the normal grouping of two people of the opposite sex is exercising the authoritative domination of the privileged group.
Zach Wahl, a student at the University of Iowa and business owner was raised by two women who married a few years ago. He was born through artificial insemination, as well as his sister (from the same donour) and therefore are both biologically siblings. 


He presents his case in Iowa here**:






Being in the field of social services, I have seen countless parents that identify as "heterosexual" make the wrong choices. I avoid calling them "mistakes" as I don't consider their actions accidental. Leaving a child home alone because you couldn't find a sitter while you were out with friends drinking is hardly a mistake now is it...?
But they were allowed to marry, and allowed to have children with no stigma or discrimination attached. Yet, what would be the court's explanation for their lack of judgement on child rearing since they're heterosexual? Don't have one? ... Well that just confirms my argument :)


The wrong choices were made because they were unfit parents, people I consider that weren't ready to have children, but happily collected the cheques. 


The bottom line is: Straight, bisexual, homosexual, black, white, purple... none of these identify with "the best parent" or "the best married couple".
As Wahl states, the sexual orientation of his parents does not have any impact on the content of his character.


Well said Wahl.

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**Thank you to my friend Diane for bringing this to my attention