Meet Maggie Gallagher, the biggest opponent of same-sex marriage in the United States. Naturally, I take much offense to many things she has to say, and mainly her opinions related to homosexual couples raising children.

I’ve mentioned before that I come from a blended family of a lesbian and heterosexual couple (2 stepmoms and 2 biological parents). I’ve seen firsthand the struggles my mom and her partner of 15 years have gone through because they are denied the same basic rights heterosexual couples receive. Simple things married couples take for granted become obstacles. For example, my mom can never be covered by her partner’s health insurance and visa-versa. The mortgage on their house is only under one of their names because banks will not allow it any other way. I do not even want to think about the ordeal when inheritance tax comes into play.

My family has also undergone it’s fair share of hardships when it comes to bigotry and homophobia. When Maggie Gallagher says she believes “that given how difficult it will be to get good social-science data on what same-sex marriage means for children, it’s best just to assume that it’s bad for them,” my skin crawls. I like to think I’m a good person and a majority of my fine traits come from my parents and upbringing. She says, “My concern is that marriage really matters because children need a mom and a dad, and after gay marriage, I can’t say that anymore. I won’t be allowed to say it. Marriage will not be about that anymore. We will not have an institution dedicated to putting together mothers and fathers and children.” While my sister and I were raised with a father, I don’t see anything wrong with a same-sex couple raising children without an opposite sex person taking on the stereotypical gender-assigned parenting role.

I hope one day Mrs. Gallagher realizes the hurt her words can cause people and families everywhere. She should know that no one chooses to be gay and no one chooses to be raised by a same-sex couples. Just because they are doesn’t make them lesser parents or children either. It’s the quality of the parenting that matters, and not the gender.

Photo source: flickr; Article source: Salon

Maggie Gallagher gay marriage homophobia homosexuality lgbtq national organization for marriage getting personal