OTTAWA, April 28, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The media recently reported that the Justice Department has completed a summary of studies that allegedly indicate that there are no differences between children of heterosexual and homosexual parents. This was in response to the Liberal government’s recent support of same-sex marriage in the courts. REAL Women Canada points out that by taking this position the Liberal government contradicts the position it took only one year ago at the Ontario Court of Appeal when it argued against the constitutionality of same-sex marriages. To corroborate its arguments against same-sex marriages in the Ontario appeal case, the federal Attorney General submitted in evidence an affidavit by Sociology Professor Stephen Nock of the University of Virginia, Associate Editor of the “Journal of Marriage, and the Family and Social Science Research.” According to his affidavit, Professor Nock concluded that studies supporting homosexual parenting were based on unreliable research and flawed methodology, and, as a result, provided a very tenuous basis on which to set public policy. Other experts on psychometrics and empirical research in psychology have also extensively reviewed the literature affirming same-sex parenting, and have determined that such studies have failed to meet even minimal scientific standards and do not justify the conclusion that there are no adverse consequences for children due to the sexual orientation of their parents. Significantly, many of the studies included in the Justice Department’s list in support of same-sex parenting were, in fact, singled out by Professor Nock in his affidavit as not being conducted according to general accepted standards of scientific research. Moreover, the conclusions reached in many of the studies in the Justice Department’s list were contradicted in Professor Nock’s affidavit.
Finally, it is noted that many of the studies listed by the federal Justice Department to support same-sex parenting were published in either homosexual, lesbian or feminist journals. These studies could be considered as advocacy studies only, at best. Very few studies raising concerns about same-sex parenting were included in the Justice Department list and when reported, they were either criticized or completely dismissed, out of hand.
The Justice Department’s attempt to justify same-sex parenting by providing a list of studies purporting to show that there is no difference between heterosexual and homosexual parenting was deeply flawed. It amounted only to subjective analysis of the studies and was so biased, as to be of little value.
Children must be given priority over political correctness, and the problems with same-sex parenting must be honestly and objectively reported. Children must not be used as tools to further a political agenda, which appears to be the case with the Justice Department’s recent release. In an article in the March/April 2004 issue of its magazine REALITY, REAL Women exposes seven serious concerns about the effects of a homosexual lifestyle on children according to various researchers such as Professor Nock and Professor Bradley P. Hayton. In the article, “Same-Sex Parenting is Harmful to Children” REAL Women provides information to support its assertion that “The Canadian Psychological Association has ceased to be a scientific organization and instead, has become a political organization promoting politically correct thought” by stating “there is no heightened risk of problems from same-sex parenting”. *See the complete *LifeSite Special Report* reprint of the article at https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/apr/040428c.html