Gay marriage could lead to fewer heterosexual marriages, witness says

The head of a think tank on marriage and family testified at the Proposition 8 federal trial today that same-sex marriage would weaken marriage and possibly lead to fewer heterosexual marriages, more divorces and "more public consideration of polygamy."

But under cross examination, David Blankenhorn, founder and president of the Institute for American Values, acknowledged that he wrote in a book in 2007 that the U.S. would be "more American on the day we permit same-sex marriage than we were on the day before."

Blankenhorn was called as an expert witness by lawyers defending Proposition 8 against a constitutional challenge by two same-sex couples. He is an author and researcher who is not associated with any university. He earned a master's degree in history in England, where he studied the history of labor unions.

Blankenhorn testified that he later worked as a community activist in low-income neighborhoods in Massachusetts and Virginia, where he became interested in the impact of fatherless families on children.

After testifying that marriage was designed for two opposite-sex parents to bear and raise children, Blankenhorn said he decided during the last two years to support domestic partnerships for gays and lesbians as a "humane compromise."

He said he previously had feared domestic partnerships would both undermine marriage and discriminate against gays, but concluded that they were more legal arrangements than marriage.

Under cross examination by David Boies, an attorney for challengers of the ballot measure, Blankenhorn admitted he knew of no study showing that children reared from birth by same-sex couples fared worse than those raised by biological parents.

Blankenhorn also conceded that same-sex marriage would probably "improve the well-being of gay and lesbian households and their children."

A spokeswoman for proponents of Proposition 8 said she did not know the context of Blankenhorn's statement that the country would be "more American" with same-sex marriage. Blankenhorn testified that he still holds that view.

Cross-examination and redirect are scheduled for Wednesday morning.

-- Maura Dolan in the San Francisco federal courthouse

Comments

[FlexSF]

Dear bigots, you don't have a prayer in this court!

[Devils Advocate]

Keep men in the closet so they can keep living on the "Down Low". Ask any women in black community what happens when you repress gay men.

I find it ironic how black communities shun gay marriage yet their men are plagued by homosexual escapades.

[Rev Bates]

I agree with his statement that America will be more "American" once same-sex marriage is legal. I meet and communicate with many Canadians who tell me that the quality of life in their communities has been enhanced by the legalization of same-sex marriages. And we have a Constitution that guarantees "freedom," and this is just a word until we are all free.

[Michael c]

Why is this headlined "Gay Marriage Could Lead to Fewer Heterosexual Marriages, Witness Says"?

A thorough reading of the story suggests that a more pertinent headline might be, "Witness Defending Prop 8 Folds Under Cross-Exam, Concedes Gay Marriage Harms No One and Expands Freedom For All."

For the benefit of those who may only read the headline, let's try to get things right, okay?

[Max Jackson]

Whatever.

The only thing that's going up from more marriages is more divorce.

Next.

[Chicolini]

No doubt gay marriage will lead to fewer phony hetero marriages.

I could have told them that.

[markiejoe]

This Blankenhorny guy is the best "expert" witness the Prop. 8 people can come up with?

I think they just lost their case.

[cannon]

This is as stupid as saying allowing black people to live in white neighborhoods will depress the property values of the whites and therefore ruin their lives.

It is amazing how far some people will go to promote bigotry and hatred.

Oh, and let's never, ever forget that all these witnesses are being PAID by the various pro-Proposition 8 groups, including the Mormons and the Catholics.

Too bad the people of Haiti couldn't have as much money thrown at them, not to mention the millions suffering in America.

As the joke goes, "I lost my house, I lost my job, I lost my retirement savings. But at least gay people can't marry"

[CyS]

Is he saying that there would be less heterosexual marriages because some of the heterosexual marriages are really a cover for gay people who are not acknowledging that they are gay? if that is the case gay marriage would save a lot of unhealthy relationships.

[Lornaj]

David Blankenhorn is all wet, and does not have the facts to back up anything he said. It is only what he thinks. Male, and female will always marry. If men, and women do not marry a lot it will be because of careers or other reasons. Some women will fear that they will end of up marrying a man like their father. Some men may fear they could also marry a woman like their mother.

[Ken]

If marriage, at its core, isn't about uniting both sexes for the sake of perpetuating society, then it CAN'T be about children. If marriage is not about children, then anyone who tells a straight guy he should marry the mother of his child for the sake of that child should be told to shut up - because marriage isn't about children. More kids will be raised without both parents in a marriage. Marriage will simply be whatever a "protected class" wants it to be - which means it won't really mean anything. If marriage means nothing, then fewer people will both to marry to raise kids.

[Mike]

Finally! Something that will lead to fewer heterosexual marriages! I'd gladly welcome the day when hetero wedding invitations stopped turning up in my mail. How many tasteful sterling silver vases, candlestick holders, serving bowls and the like can tasteful homosexuals like me be expected to buy?

[Archangel]

This is EXACTLY a concern that I referenced elsewhere: "Under cross examination by David Boies, an attorney for challengers of the ballot measure, Blankenhorn admitted he knew of no study showing that children reared from birth by same-sex couples fared worse than those raised by biological parents..."
THERE ARE NO STUDIES as yet!
This factor alone should raise cause for concern until it is adequately examined be damned no matter how long this takes.
Psychological and/or physical trauma cannot be undone after the fact no matter what given hack PhD claims. Once a young psyche is so damaged that wreckage will follow them throughout their lives.
Another reason to treat this agressive homosexual challenge with caution.
This direction of question is so typical of sleazebag lawyering; asking for data that doesn't even exist.

[Josh]

When you break this issue down step by step like it is right now in the California Supreme Court, the ridiculousness of pro prop 8 argument is very clear. They dont have a good argument. Maybe their argument would make good sense in Saudi Arabia, but we have a good constitution and we try to adhere to it. If they really cannot see that the love between two people of the same sex is the same as between two people of the opposite sex, and deserve the same rights, then they are plain sick.

[Brian]

Wow, I have been married to my partner for a year and a half. We have been together for 10 years. I wonder how may heterosexual marriages we have stopped. I never knew we had so much power. Just 2-4 percent of the population and we have the power to bring down this institution. Maybe you religious heteros should clean up your own yard and stop worrying about us having equality for our tax dollars.

[David Fritz]

Yeah... gay marriage will cut into the number of straight marriages. That's because it'll lessen the chances (assuming your kids are straight) that you'll end up with a gay son- or daughter-in-law. Boy, no wonder you're so bummed out.

What an idiot.

[chatmandu]

If you change the definition of marriage for one group you have to change it for all groups. Hello polygamy....

[erasure25]

@Archangel
I think you misunderstand. There are scientific studies that show children raised by same-sex parents turn out no different than children raised by opposite-sex parents. Those studies were presented during the first half of the Prop 8 trial.

There are no studies that show children raised by same-sex parents turn out worse than children raised by opposite-sex parents. Why are there no studies? Because the science and evidence does not support that conclusion.

[hubbbubb]

Josh says: "When you break this issue down step by step like it is right now in the California Supreme Court, the ridiculousness of pro prop 8 argument is very clear. They don't have a good argument."

hubbubb sez: Josh, you have a point if the premise you've taken is derived from the shape-shifting system of "value" being promulgated in public education and in the public discourse. But some things never change because they cannot be changed. Just because you really-really want to BELIEVE that something wrong is right does not make it right.

Here's a taste of C.S. Lewis' "Abolition of Man"
"The rebellion of new ideologies against the Tao is a rebellion of the branches against the tree: if the rebels could succeed they would find that they had destroyed themselves. The human mind has no more power of inventing a new value than of imagining a new primary colour, or, indeed, of creating a new sun and a new sky for it to move in."

Here is a link to the text if you are interested:
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/lewis/abolition2.htm

Have a real nice day, Josh.

[Fitz67]

Most people are heterosexual and only opposite sex pairs can conceive children. Your standard explicitly states that a child’s natural Father (or Mother) is non-essential to marriage, that any combination of adult is sufficient. It further reinforces and locks in the notion that all family forms are inherently equal. They are not. Yes, there is a philosophical maxim that reads – “If it’s everything it’s nothing”. We can’t defend what we can’t define. You are attempting to severe marriage from its historical and biological heritage. The effect is to say that marriage is outdated and any family form including single parenting is acceptable

[UrbanReason]

Once again, opponents of gay marriage all but state openly that they are motivated only by fear and speculation. I sincerely hope this is as obvious to the judges as it is to everyone else.

Even if you did have some way to prove the preposterous notion that gay marriage will somehow lead to a decrease in heterosexual marriage... I don't see how it's even relevant. So what if it does. If more straight people choose not to get married because gay people are getting married - that's they're business, not the job of the government to try to stop people from making that decision.

From where I sit it would seem the biggest threat to straight marriage is straight people cheapening the institution by wedding for the wrong reasons and then getting divorced when they realize it. I say this as a heterosexual.

[Scottilla]

GAY MARRIAGE COULD LEAD TO FEWER HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGES

Of course, there are only so many marriages available to go around.

PROP. 8 WITNESS WARNS OF SOCIAL UPHEAVAL

We're already seeing it. Democrats elected in Iowa, Republicans in Massachusetts, and universal health care in Canada.

[Jeff Luebke]

Ridiculous assumption.
This individual is the "head of a think tank"

[magster]

Who said being "American" is so great anyway? Lame arguement. Although I'm a white female, born here, I don't find it much to brag about, especially now and with this tiring topic. You are all so full of hate, both sides.... so full of sick hate.
I don't support it, but I don't go spouting off hate speech. No, I don't believe they should marry, yes I do believe it's a choice, yes I do feel sorry for lesbians who feel that because they were abused as children one way or another, they could only find sexual and emotional safety with other females. So sad.

[Ben]

No data exists to support that children of homosexual parents fare worse than those of heterosexual parents because a thoughtful person will never logically conclude that this is a strong hypothesis. Therefore no thoughtful person, ie. scientist/researcher, would bother engaging in this work.

Furthermore, it is likely than children of homosexuals fare better because there are stringent requirements for adoptive parents and no requirements besides sexual maturity for bearing children of your own (likely holds true for adoption by heterosexuals from birth as well).

Perhaps we should welcome the fact that nearly all homosexual couples with children have adopted and therein helped better our society.