Over the Rainbow: - Wrestling With Angels

In February of 2010, Obama again disappointed homosexuals who were wanting to serve
openly in the armed forces. Michael Mullen, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm., reported that the
Pentagon is conducting a year long review of policy change. President Obama and Congress will
table this issue for the rest of the year (The Washington Times, 2010).
Social Consequences of Normalizing Same-Sex Marriage (Blankenhorn, 2007:202-212)
In considering the future of marriage, Dr. David Blankenhorn chaired three one-day
seminars for researchers and family scholars in 2004 to address concerns raised by the
prospect of gay marriage. Seminars were held in New York City, Washington D.C. and Atlanta,
Georgia, with a total of 40 people attending, including leading family scholars. Some had
spoken out in favor of gay marriage and some against. Serious scholars and leaders wrestled
with the issue in an attempt to see both sides.
The results of the discussions confirmed that a movement toward gay marriage would not
only affect a small minority but would constitute major social change. It became evident that
the decision was not a morally easy one because when important goods conflict, any resolution
will carry elements of loss. A diverse range of consequences were listed, both positive and
negative.
Positive social consequences of extending marriage benefits to same-sex couples included:
* the improvement of well being and social worth for gays and lesbians,
* increased tolerance and inclusion in society,
* and equal treatment under the law.
Extending marriage benefits would:
* encourage gays to choose committed relationship,
* contribute to more stability and longer lasting relationships,
* and lead to less sexual promiscuity.
Negative social consequences identified in changing the public meaning of marriage from a
social institution to a private relationship between two people included:
* the deinstitutionalization of marriage, contributing to a social devaluation of marriage,
* endorsement of the idea that a child does not really need a mother and a father,
* opening the door to other forms of ‘marriage’, including group marriage and polygamy,
Over the Rainbow: The Gay Battle for Social Reorganization of America. 2010
Dr. M. L. Coppock
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