Thursday, April 16, 2015

Who's Who of Christofascist Groups Files Amicus Brief with SCOTUS


Not surprisingly, a veritable who's who of lunatic Christofascists organizations with ties to Focus on the Family and Family Research Council  - e.g., Citizen Link,  . . . .  Virginia's own hate group, The Family Foundation, and a host od similar state affiliate hate groups  - have filed an amicus brief with the U. S. Supreme Court in the marriage case, OBERGEFELL v. HODGES, which will be argued before the Court later this month.  As has been the case in Lawrence v. Texas, and other gay rights cases, the brief may actually help the cause of those fighting for marriage equality because the arguments put forth (i) are batshit crazy, and (ii) underscore that same sex marriage bans stem principally fro extreme religious belief and anti-gay animus.  As Joe Jervis notes, the brief argues that gay marriage will result in same-sex marriage must not be approved because otherwise the nation will be overrun with slutty girls and violent boys.  Here's a taste of the lunacy, none of which relates to the issue of equal protection and due process rights under the United States Constitution:
A mother plays a vital role in the development of a male child’s identity and ability to relate to members of the opposite sex. In particular, research shows that mothers enable their sons to “play the role of a loving boy [and] man[.]”. . . male children have an innate need to understand what it means to be a boy and a man, and the presence and care of a loving mother is critical in fulfilling that need.

Fathers also discipline less frequently than mothers, but are more consistent in applying predetermined consequences for particular actions. Indeed, the mere presence of a father in the home significantly reduces the likelihood that boys will engage in delinquent behavior. For boys, fathers also serve as role models by engendering a healthy respect for femininity, and that respect discourages compensatory masculinity and associated aggressive and violent behavior. For girls, an involved father reduces the likelihood of early sexual activity and teenage pregnancy, promotes self-esteem and a positive body image, and decreases the risk of eating disorders. . . . Studies have also “shown that dads have a more powerful influence than moms when it comes to convincing kids to steer clear of cigarettes and sex. 

. . . . only the mother-father parenting structure fosters child development in a comprehensive, holistic manner, from birth to adulthood.

Parents in all kinds of family structures should be recognized for the contributions they make in their children’s lives. This, however, does not diminish the legitimate interest of the State to exclusively recognize man-woman marriage due to the unique benefits of dual gender parenting.

Redefining marriage, moreover, would seriously erode the existing marital norm that encourages gender-diverse parenting. By itself, the fact that marriage is defined as the union of a man and a woman makes clear to society that marriage is really about procreation and children, and that it is expected to carry with it both a masculine and a feminine aspect.

If anything, the brief is an argument for banning heterosexual divorce, not same sex marriage, even though it ignores abuse heterosexual parents and seemingly argues that straight parents, no how horrible the marital/family situation should be forced to remain together.  That , of course, defies logic and reason, tow things scorned by the "godly folk."   Among the brief's "authorities" is discredited researcher Mark Regnerus who is facing calls for discipline and possible firing at his home university. Let's hope the non-responsive brief convinces at least 5 justices that these groups represent bigoted idiots whose arguments should be ignored..

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