In what context? Church???
No, in school silly. I taught at the Escola das Nações("School of the Nations") in Brasilia Brazil for almost two years before teaching at the University. I taught Computer Science and Ethics to five different grade levels, and I was frequently involved in meetings with students their parents and the school psychologist.
Your answer to me and subsequent comments lead me to conclude that your basic problem with gay men (since, as harmony pointed out long ago, you ignore lesbians) adopting children is that you think their children will become gay.
No. I think the immediate concerns hould be about gender confusion. That doesn't have to necessarily lead to homosexuality, just confusion, which would be an avoidable stressor for orphaned children.
You are skeptical of the idea that gay people are "born that way" (which is a whole other conversation... when did YOU choose to be heterosexual?), so you think that this is a learned behavior.
I know for a fact that it can be a learned behavior, the same as enjoying shoving gerbils up one's butt is also a learned behavior. I knew a guy who was gay as a teen but then went on a mission later. He attributed his homosexual experimentation with psychological issues he had to overcome as a kid. He never insisted he was "born that way." Ten years later he has four children and a beautiful wife, and he often gives talks on overcoming homosexuality. Of course you can insist he is living in the closet as religion has brainwashed him, or whatever. But the fact is people who are not born homosexual, but are practicing homosexuals, can in fact learn to change their sexual preferences.
I also know women who revert to Lesbianism because they had traumatic experiences with men in the past. Perhaps they were raped when younger, or even molested by their fathers. Naturally any subsequent images of a penis will bring back those terrifying moments in the past. But everyone needs love, so they try something else. Does this mean they were "born that way" or is it more likely they chose their sexual path because of other factors?
Having said that, I do believe some people are born that way. This is the third time I have said this and I mean it. I really do. Some people are born with both sexual organs. Some men are clearly more in touch with their feminine side than others. I am sure sexual preference is something that is transmitted through the genes the same as any other behavior. But just because you have a penis doesn't necessarily mean you will be born with an attraction to women. I believe some people are born homosexual. Some men, later in life, choose to wear women's clothing and makeup, but do not want to have any kind of homosexual sex. They say they always felt they were women inside, but waiting until their kids got out of the house before they chose to confront the situation. I feel badly for people like this because it is a gene issue beyond their control. I cannot imagine what it would be like to be born with feminine tendencies, while operating from a clearly male body.
But I also know for a fact that many convert to homosexuality because they choose to, and then later convince themselves they were "born that way" because that is what they are being told by society.
This is Kevin's fear. Allowing gay parents to adopt children will result in a culture that will eventually be overrun by homosexuals, since they learned the behavior from their parents.
Why do you constantly do this? You know that isn't what I said. You keep bringing up terms like "disgust" and now "fear" and attributing them to me when I have made it perfectly clear I don't feel either. The reason I brought up the likely furture increase in homosexuality was to point out that homosexuality is a culturally driven phenomenon. Right now everyone just says people are coming out of the closet, but eventually they will have to deal with the fact that it has more to do with society reacting to todays sexual revolution.
So if children learn sexual behavior and orientation from parents, how do you explain the fact that the vast majority of homosexuals were raised by heterosexual parents?
I already touched on this. First of all, some really are homosexuals. Others rebel against their parents based on their prejudices. If a kid hates the religious bigotry in his family he will be inclined to rebel accordingly. My uncle married a chinese woman because my grandfather hates asians. The fact that my parents hated Mormonism only made me want to investigate it more. I have seen children respond to stressors in the wierdest ways. One 6th grader started cutting his arm with a razor blade. So I can easily see how disturbed children in dysfunctional households would experiment with things like drugs or even homosexuality, for similiar reasons. And don't forget, a human's first orgasm is his/her best and most memorable. If this happens to come prematurely by way of homosexual experimentation as a kid, then one is likely hooked. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Gadianton,
You know, Kevin, even though I disagree with you, I will give you credit in that I think you've thought about your beliefs on this issue and aren't just spouting brain-washed Mormonism.
I will go as far as agreeing that the question can be raised over whether or not same-sex couples should be able to adopt. That one raises the question does not make them a homophobe.
I appreciate that. You and Jersey Girl seem to be understanding what I'm saying and what I'm not saying. Now be prepared to be attacked by Schmo and anyone else who wants to continue justifying the illicit bigot-baiting. I think it is sad the way some people insist on making this a religious topic. Some religious bigots invoke religion to criticize, but others seem to require religion in order to dismiss any valid concerns. If you express any kind of concern over homosexual behavior in front of children, well, there can be no other explanation can there? You have to be a Bible-thumping bigot. This is the epitome of black and white thinking.
For the record, I don't believe gays will be punished in the hereafter. I don't even believe in hell.
PS: One has to consider the double-standard here. Schmo insists I am gay. The fact that I am married doesn't phase him. But what if the tables were turned, and I insisted that all homosexuals were really just heterosexuals? Following Schmo's line of reasoning, the fact that they have homosexual sex means nothing. They aren't really homosexuals at all. Of course if I said that, I would be crucified, tarred and feathered and then dragged under the bus for being a bigot.