Every once in a while I find myself reading a newspaper. Apparently, the same thing happens to you. The other day, I came across an interesting article about gay couples who raise children. The writer diplomatically presented multiple viewpoints on the topic, focusing mainly on a child having two recognized parents (instead of one) and how this is beneficial.

The author also gave opposing viewpoints. Of course, it’s always good to give all sides of the story and be open to everyone’s opinion. Except in a matter like this–where they are clearly wrong. I mean, have your opinion all you want, but don’t impose on other peoples lives because of it. If you don’t think a child should grow up with two loving gay parents, then it’s convenient for you that you’re straight and won’t ever be in that situation yourself, eh?

The article’s author mentioned individuals who felt that having a gay couple as parents could be harmful to a child’s mentality and upbringing. But there are heterosexual parents charged with child abuse every day, and no one’s stopping them from getting married and starting families. In fact, sexual abuse is statistically less likely to happen with gay and lesbian parents; in a study published in the journal “Pediatrics,” researcher Carole Jenny writes that “a child’s risk of being molested by his or her relative’s heterosexual partner is over 100 times greater than by someone who might be identifiable as being homosexual, lesbian, or bisexual.”

Skeptics also commented about peers’ reactions to the child’s family life and the ridicule or embarrassment he or she may receive, but give me a break. First of all, there is no evidence that these children face any more difficulty socializing in school than the children of straight parents. Second of all, if their argument refers to a 13-year-old with gay parents being a little embarrassed at open house night, then they should try thinking on a larger scale. I was a little embarrassed when my dad insisted on wearing MC Hammer pants every where we went. He was still allowed to be my father and I still turned out okay.

You can’t escape middle school without ridicule and embarrassment. You can, however, go through life without being raised in a loving, supportive household, and the consequences of that are a bit more damaging than being embarrassed. Just a few of the many statistics supporting the relationship between a kid’s poor family life and the potential for a tainted adulthood can be found in a study sponsored by the National Institute of Justice, which reported that “being abused or neglected as a child increased the likelihood of arrest as a juvenile by 53 percent, as an adult by 38 percent, and for a violent crime by 38 percent.”

The argument over gays’ child rearing most likely has little to do with their concern for the children, and more to do with some people’s disapproval of gays’ lifestyles. Children are the future; our neighbors’ sex life, however, is not the future. This is in reference, of course, to the couple in Texas who challenged that state’s sodomy laws. Two gay people being intimate in the privacy of their own home? Who cares? Ultimately, if it isn’t your body or your household, then what is the problem? Much like Texas’ outdated sodomy laws, the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” controversy and the derogatory epithets many Americans still employ, questioning gays’ and lesbians’ parenting ability or validity is just more unacceptable persecution.

Everyone would probably be a lot more tolerant if they had a taste of their own medicine. We should have a National Persecute Heteros month. That could be fun. I mean, sure, I’m heterosexual, but I could take the abuse once a year knowing that it was for the greater good.

The most important issue is whether or not a child is being raised in a positive, supportive environment. Today, the traditional mother and father and 1.5 children are no longer the only positive model of a family. Statistics repeatedly show that not only is there no proven damage to a child’s upbringing from being raised by a gay couple, but that it is more likely that the child will grow up being knowledgeable about–and comfortable with–gay relationships. Wow, a benefit from being different? Whoda thunk?