This article is not meant to discriminate, vilify or foment detestation towards LGBT persons or any persons reading its words. I would like to take this opportunity to communicate love towards any reader who disagrees with what I have stated here. Your life is precious to God and in God we can all find life, love and eternal purpose.
Shawn Stevens
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AND TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE
At the outset I would like to say I have no malice towards individuals who claim to be gay. This article is not meant to bash people who claim to be gay. Rather, it is an attempt to look objectively at the results of gay marriage in society and to ask some serious questions.
On February 1, 2005, “The Civil Marriage Act” was introduced by Paul Martin's Liberal government in the Canadian House of Commons. It was passed on June 28, 2005, by the House of Commons and, on July 19, by the Senate. One day later, it received royal consent and Canada became the fourth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, nationwide. Conservative Party efforts to have the law re-examined were voted down. Alberta premier, Ralph Klein, called for a national referendum which would allow Canadians the opportunity to express their wishes on this topic. The request was rejected.
Many of us feel that same-sex marriage devalues traditional marriage. The traditional marriage of a man and a woman, joined together in holy matrimony, is a high standard that many Canadians adhere to today. We feel this way as a direct result of reading and believing the words of the Holy Bible.This standard is taught in the Bible, from the words of Jesus Christ; “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?” (Matthew19:4-5).
Is there research that would raise concerns over placing a child into a same-sex home? Let's look at the issue objectively. One study by D. J. West, Homosexuality Re-examined claims that 60% of male homosexual relationships last less than one year and that most lesbian relationships last under three years. 1 Gay psychiatrist and psychologist couple, McWhirter and Mattison, set out to disprove the claim that gay relationships usually don't last. They did a study of 156 couples who had been together between one and thirty-five years. They found that only seven had been able to achieve sexual fidelity and of those seven, none had been together more than five years. In other words, out of 156 couples there was no couple who had been faithful to their partner beyond five years.2 A study conducted by M. Pollak, “In Western Sexuality: Practice and Precept in the Past and Present Times” concluded that most homosexual partnerships did not last beyond two years. 3 If this is a trend, should someone reconsider placing a child in a family situation like this?Is this a fair question to ask?
By legalizing same-sex marriage, the door has been opened to challenge other aspects of marriage law. Winston Blackmore and James Oler are a part of a cult which is an off-shoot of the Mormon Church. They have been accused of being married to more than one wife, a crime in Canada, punishable by a maximum of five years in prison. Blackmore's lawyer argues that marriage laws have changed, referring to same-sex marriage. 7 The question can be asked, “If marriage can be changed to accommodate the homosexual community, why can't it be changed to accommodate other models such as polygamy?” It is allowed for Muslims in many countries to practice polygamy. What will the changing of the law on marriage in Canada potentially mean for those who are looking for legal support for polygamy?
Is it unloving to question same-sex marriage? I don't believe that it is unloving to question when some research claims that significant percentages of homosexual relationships are short-lived. The Bible warns us; “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." (Leviticus 18.22). It guides us “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?” (Matthew19:4-5).
May love and marriage prevail in our great land. Thank you reader for your objectivity. Wherever you stand on this issue, know that you are loved.
Shawn Stevens
ENDNOTES :
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D. J. West, Homosexuality Re-examined (London: Duckworth, 1977).
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D. P. McWhirter and A. M. Mattison, The Male Couple (Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1984).
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M. Pollak, “ Male Homosexuality” in Western Sexuality : Practice and Precept in Past and Present Times, Ed. P. Aries and A. Bejin, translated by Anthony Forster (New York: B. Blackwell, 1985), 40-61.
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Lettie L. Lockhart, et al, “Letting out the Secret : Violence in Lesbian Relationships” Journal of Interpersonal Violence 9 (1994) : 469-492.
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D. Island and P. Letellier, Men Who Beat the Men Who Love Them : Battered Gay Men and Domestic Violence (New York: Haworth Press, 1991), 14.
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“Violence Between Intimates,” Bureau of Justice Statistics Selected Findings November 1994, 2.
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“B. C. fundamentalist Mormon leaders in court today on polygamy charges” The Vancouver Sun, January 21, 2009.
REFERENCES :
“Violence Between Intimates.” Bureau of Justice Statistics Selected Findings, Nov. 1994, 2.
Hainsworth, Jeremy. “Polygamist's defense cites gay marriage.” The Associated Press, Jan. 22, 2009.
Island D. and P. Letellier. Men Who Beat the Men Who Love Them : Battered Gay Men and Domestic Violence. New York: Haworth Press, 1991.
Lockhart, Lettie L. et al, “Letting out the Secret : Violence in Lesbian Relationships.”
Journal of Interpersonal Violence 9 (1994) : 469-492.
McWhirter, D. P. and A. M. Mattison. The Male Couple. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1984.
Pollak, M. “ Male Homosexuality” in Western Sexuality : Practice and Precept in Past and Present Times. Ed. P. Aries and A. Bejin, translated by Anthony Forster.
New York: B. Blackwell, 1985.
“B. C. fundamentalist Mormon leaders in court today on polygamy charges.”
The Vancouver Sun, January 21, 2009.
Turek, Frank, Ph.D. Correct, not Polictically Correct : How Same-Sex Marriage Hurts Everyone. Charlotte: Frank Turek, 2008.
West, D. J. Homosexuality Re-examined. London: Duckworth, 1977.
“Why The Surrogacy (Same-Sex Parenting) Law Is Wrong” http://www.kidsrightscount.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Same-sex_marriage_in_Canada
Scriptures taken from the King James Bible.