Same-sex 'marriage' has negative effects, shows latest evidence

The experience of legalising marriage for same-sex couples in Europe and North America shows that such legalisation has negative effects for real marriage and for families, shows latest evidence.

The evidence was presented to the House of Commons committee examining the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, in a written submission by Dr Patricia Morgan, the British family policy researcher, on behalf of SPUC. The submission can be read in full at www.spuc.org.uk/campaigns/ssmsub20130301

Based on research and data from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Canada and the US, Dr Morgan concluded that:

• as marriage is redefined to accommodate same-sex couples, this reinforces the idea that marriage is irrelevant to parenthood
• same-sex marriage leads to the casualisation of heterosexual unions and separation of marriage and parenthood
• Spain saw a pronounced acceleration in the decline of marriage following the introduction of same-sex marriage (same-sex marriage was introduced at the same time as the ‘express divorce bill’)
• across all countries analysed, no causal link has been established to support the idea that same-sex marriage prevents marital decline
• in the move to same-sex marriage, opposite-sex relationships have to conform to gay norms rather than vice-versa
• a publicly-professed, legal, partnership does not prevent homosexual couples from breaking up more frequently than married heterosexual couples
• experience with same-sex partnerships/marriage legislation tends to suggest that availability is all, and participation more or less irrelevant to sexual minorities
• same-sex marriage may be the end-game of long-running anti-marriage, anti-family policy typified by Sweden
• same-sex marriage may begin the process of severing marriage from family in otherwise family-friendly societies such as Spain and the Netherlands
• same-sex marriage triggers dismemberment of family structures in family-friendly societies.

As a pro-life organisation, SPUC campaigns against same-sex marriage because:

• marriage - the permanent, exclusive union of one man and one woman - is the basis of the family, the fundamental group unit of society. Upholding marriage is therefore in everyone’s interests.
• marriage as an institution protects children, both born and unborn. Statistics show that unborn children are much safer within marriage than outside marriage.
• same-sex marriage lacks basic elements of true marriage e.g. the complementary sexual difference between spouses necessary for the procreation and healthy upbringing of children.
• same-sex marriage represents an attempt to redefine marriage, thus undermining marriage. This undermining lessens the protection for unborn children which true marriage provides.

SPUC is working with the Coalition for Marriage (C4M) to oppose the British government’s plans to legalise same-sex marriage. SPUC published a position paper on same-sex marriage following a resolution by SPUC's Council. SPUC has also made available a background paper to be read in conjunction with the position paper and which provides some additional references and reflections.

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