The Christian right and homophobic discourse : a response to "evidence" that lesbian and gay parenting damages children.

Hicks, S 2003, 'The Christian right and homophobic discourse : a response to "evidence" that lesbian and gay parenting damages children.' , Sociological Research Online, 8 (4) .

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Abstract

This 'rapid response' piece, submitted under the 'Sexuality and the Church' theme, examines claims by Christian writers that lesbian and gay parenting is bad for children. The author analyses aspects of what he terms a 'Christian homophobic discourse' in order to demonstrate the problematic claim to neutrality made by these writers. In addition, the author shows how the Christian writers' view of research rests upon a series of positivist assumptions. Claims that research evidence shows children of lesbian or gay parents demonstrate gender or sexual identity confusion are disputed, and the author argues that the Christian writers present their own moral interpretations rather than the 'facts of the matter'. The author argues that the Christian writers construct a version of homosexuality as highly diseased and dangerous, before concluding that it is both epistemologically and morally misguided to see 'sexuality' as an object or variable which influences the development of children.

Item Type:	Article
Themes:	Subjects / Themes > H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) Subjects / Themes > H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman > HQ503 The family. Marriage. Home Subjects / Themes > H Social Sciences > HM Sociology Subjects outside of the University Themes
Schools:	Schools > School of Health and Society > Centre for Applied Research in Health, Welfare and Policy
Journal or Publication Title:	Sociological Research Online
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Refereed:	Yes
ISSN:	1360-7804
Depositing User:	Dr Stephen Hicks
Date Deposited:	02 Oct 2009 15:05
Last Modified:	16 Feb 2022 08:36
URI:	https://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/2311

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