Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, fresh from his transvaginal ultrasound pre-abortion mandate battle, now is turning hid attention to marriage equality, gay rights, and the ability to gay parents to properly raise children. McDonnell, as seen in this video below, says that gay parents threaten the ability of their children to achieve the American dream, and that only straight parents can give children the right start in life. McDonnell, whose words sound remarkably like those of Maggie Gallagher, claims that most of the data he’s read from both sides support his false information, bigotry and ignorance.
McDonnell appeared in a Politico sponsored discussion with Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, who is about to sign his state’s same-sex marriage bill into law.
Igor Volsky at Think Progress reports, “when O’Malley responded by suggesting that the well-being of children informed his own evolution towards marriage equality — ‘we concluded that it was not right and not just that the children of gay parents should homes that are protected in a lesser way under the law than other children,’ he said — McDonnell remained unconvinced, insisting that gays and lesbians make worse parents than heterosexual couples and should thus be the last to adopt children.”
MCDONNELL: Most of the data that I’ve read that the best environment for a child to grow up to be fully capable of achieving the American dream and having the best start at life in an intact two-parent family made up of a man and a woman. I would say that that’s what all the data would suggest…An intact two-parent family is in fact the best for our country. Should be the model, but when it doesn’t work we have safety nets.
Volsky notes:
Indeed, it’s because an “intact two-parent family” is “the best for our country” that gay and lesbian families are seeking recognition under the law. A range of studies, including the the American Psychological Association, have concluded that “beliefs that lesbian and gay adults are not fit parents have no empirical foundation.” In fact, a recent analysis found that the 2 million children who are currently living with LGBT parents are hurt not by the sexual orientation of mom or dad, but the social stigma and legal inequality that people like McDonnell perpetuate.
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{ 9 comments }
McDonnell and his evil Attorney General Coochie Nellie, are both bigots who don't deserve the time of day.
I love Virginia, but the politicians here are about as backward as you can get. I am out, transsexual, and lesbian, and have almost no problems in my very conservative community. I just wish peoples acceptance would carry over to the ballot box.
I'm from Virginia, but don't live there now. It is my belief that Virginia's politicians are often way behind their voters on social issues. I don't know why Virginia voters put these rightwing extremists in office, because they don't seem to really reflect how the voters of Virginia feel, and who they are, and where they stand on many issues.
Two-parent family, two-parent family, Mom and Dad. So, where is his campaign against divorce and single-parent families? Divorce has consistently remained at around 50% for several decades. Until and unless the parents remarry, their kids live in single-parent households. Marriage among heterosexuals is slowly decreasing as couples put off marriage or opt out of marriage all together.
Also, which American dream is he talking about? The one where people are losing their jobs and their homes? The one where parents are struggling to put food on the table? The one where people go to college and struggle to find a job after graduation? The one where Republicans are telling people that if they (Republicans) have their way, we will all be on our own. The one where our country is ruled by the corporate bottom line, where profits are more important than clean air and water and saving the environment for our children and grandchildren?
Kids won't be able to achieve the American dream if they have gay parents? How is that even possible? The gay parents are going to stop their kids from going to college, and force them to work at McDonalds or Walmart? What does he think the American dream is, having a mom and a dad? If that were true, then divorce would be illegal, and straight couples wouldn't be able to put their children up for adoption. — So it doesn't really matter if the mom and dad love their kids, or raise them properly. The only criteria is that they're heterosexual. That seems to be all that matters when it comes to proper upbringing of children. — What an idiot.
I laud what you are doing, but the abundance of typographical and grammatical errors in the article seriously damage your credibility. Did a high school dropout write this?
people like this are most likely closeted homosexuals. They are obviously harboring alot of hate. Self hate. If you are straight, did you choose to be gay? Most straight guys like women. Its not a choice. If it was there would be none. That simple. Now people discriminating and degrading people for who they love is just wrong. I know thats how we did it in the past but we live in the present. You don't see public slave trading in the states anymore do you? Its called progress.
So what proof does this ignorant politician have to support this theory? I guess he doesn't have a problem with the adultery, divorce and single parent homes that most of straight Americans gives to their children. Maybe he needs to see a mental health expert so he can learn how to grow up and become a mature adult.
I know it must be hard for him and those in the Republican Party to use common sense but he needs to learn how to do it.
Who does he think raises us? Raise your hand if your parents are heterosexual and you're gay ……
ME-ME-ME-ME-ME-MEEEEEE
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