Family and Law Speech Transcript

A young mom is holding her newborn who is just hours old. Looking at him she is overwhelmed
by the sweet innocence that is so clearly present. His tiny body rests on her chest while her
husband is there by her side. He is filled with relief that all is well. He looks at his son and is
smitten. The joy and love of these two new parents fills the room.

This young mom is now thinking to herself, “I would do and give anything for this sweet boy. He
deserves so much more than I can give him. I am not perfect, no one is, but this I know, I can do
my best to raise him. I can raise him knowing that he has his mother and father that will
provide for him, sacrifice for him, love him unconditionally, and help him grow and learn in the
best way possible.”

Doesn’t every child deserve this? Doesn’t every child deserve the chance to be raised by a
loving mother and father who will sacrifice for them, raise them and support them? Doesn’t
every child deserve the chance to know who they come from? Every child deserves a mother
and father who are married and devoted to their family.

On June 26, 2015 the supreme court of the united states legalized same sex marriage in all
states. This law now says that having a mom and a dad is “optional.” But what happens to
children who are raised in a family with their mother and father versus in a family with same
sex partners?

In 2003 a study was done on adolescence. They compared adolescence raised in a family with
their mother and father versus a number of family structures including same sex partners. They
concluded that children whose mother and father are actively involved in their lives have
greater psychological wellbeing.

For example, it was found that adolescents with greater father involvement in their lives were
shown to self-report greater happiness. Another interesting finding is that children living with
both biological parents show greater academic performance, greater locus of control, and
higher self-esteem.

In 2012 a study was done on adults raised by gay couples’ verses being raised by their mother
and father. They found that children who spend their entire childhood with their married
mother and father are most apt to succeed as adults. An interesting result showed that children
of lesbian mothers were twice as likely as children of biological parents to currently or
previously be in counseling or therapy for anxiety, depression, relationships etc.

In the last fifty years there has been an increase in change of opinions. 71% of respondents in
1988 disagreed that same sex couples should marry. This number drastically dropped to 52% in
2006. In 2020 64% of Americans say that same-sex marriage should be legal.
You may be wondering what these numbers have to do with children. These numbers show us
that 64% of Americans think that it is okay for children to not be raised by their mother and
father. This number is concerning. When we agree that same sex marriage is good, aren’t we
ignoring what is best for children? We are ignoring the research and evidence that children
overall do best in a family with their mother and father.

As the newborn, baby boy, was born into his family with his mother and father, he was given
the best opportunity to flourish, learn, and grow. Every child deserves the chance to be raised
by a married mother and father. Because of the legalization of gay marriage, many more
children will not be given this opportunity. This will impact society and the future of the world.

So, what do we do? Same sex marriage is legal in the United States so how can we make a
difference? Talk. Share your experiences. You never know who may need to hear your story.
Many of us may come from different family structures. Whether we come from a mom and
dad, a single mom, divorced parents, cohabiting parents, or even gay parents. We have all been
impacted one way or another.

With more children being raised by same sex parents, schools can take on a greater role
offering support for children. They can do this by making counselors more accessible for all
students attending the school. These counselors can be an extra support in the children’s’
academic, social, and emotional life.

According, to Edweek.org, findings have shown that nationwide, “public school counselors are
overworked and under-resourced. The average student-to-school-counselor ratio is 482-to-1
nearly doubled the 250-to-1 ratio recommended by the American School Counselor
Association.”

We have a responsibility to fight for children. We need to be more supportive by spreading the
word on why fathers and mothers are best for children. They both bring unique roles into a
child’s life that can’t be replaced. We can all try and be better by putting the needs of children
first and doing what is best for them.
 References

ABC news. (n.d.). Retrieved March 04, 2021, from https://abcnews.go.com/Business/best-worst-

states-divorce/story?id=14934693

A brief history of civil rights in the United states: A timeline of the legalization of same-sex

marriage in the U.S. (n.d.). Retrieved March 04, 2021, from

https://guides.ll.georgetown.edu/c.php?g=592919&p=4182201

Baunach, D. M. (2011). Decomposing trends in attitudes toward gay marriage, 1988–

2006. Social science quarterly, 92(2), 346-363. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-

6237.2011.00772.x

Flouri, E., & Buchanan, A. (2003). The role of father involvement and mother involvement in

adolescents' psychological well‐being. British Journal of Social Work, 33(3), 399-406.

Fuschillo, Alanna. (2018). The Troubling Student-to-Counselor Ratio That Doesn't Add Up

(Opinion).” Education Week, Education Week, 27 Apr. 2020,

www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-the-troubling-student-to-counselor-ratio-that-

doesnt-add up/2018/08#:~:text=The%20average%20student%2Dto%2Dschool,the

%20American%20School%20Counselor%20Association.

McCarthy, Justin. “U.S. Support for Gay Marriage Edges to New High.” Gallup.com, Gallup, 14

Jan. 2021, news.gallup.com/poll/210566/support-gay-marriage-edges-new-high.aspx.

Regnerus, M. (2012). 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), 752-770. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2012.03.009