08.09.18

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•GUEST OPINION•
BY MARK BAER
‘MORAL DECAY’
FEDERALLY FUNDED ADOPTION AGENCIES SHOULD NOT BE
PERMITTED TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST LGBT FAMILIES
Legalizing discrimination against LGBT people, by individuals and
organizations employed or funded by the government, is a reflection of moral
decay within our society.
An amendment approved on July 11 by the Republican majority in the House
Appropriations Committee to the 2019 funding bill for the Departments of
Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education does just this. The approved
amendment allows federally funded child welfare placing agencies to discriminate
against children in their care and qualified prospective parents based on sexual
orientation, gender identity and religion.
Allowing people and organizations receiving taxpayer funds to discriminate
against a segment of the population they view as immoral, based upon an
immutable characteristic having nothing to do with character and integrity,
couldn’t be more reprehensible. While people may differ in opinion as to what is
sinful and immoral, such things are always based upon actions and behaviors —
not unalterable traits.
This seemingly endless mistreatment of LGBT people is based upon a sincerely
held religious belief that their sexual orientation and gender identities are
preferences or choices, which is contrary to uniform findings from professional
mental health, medical and scientific organizations. What is unethical and
immoral is denying people justice, fairness and rights because of who they are,
irrespective of what they do. As Pope Francis purportedly said, earlier this year,
to an abuse survivor in a private meeting, “God made you this way and loves you
this way, and the pope loves you this way.”
An article published by Science Daily in June titled “Psychological Adjustment,
No difference in outcomes for children of same-sex versus different-sex parents,”
states: “most studies have found no difference in child psychological adjustment
or in the quality of parenting and family relationships for gay or lesbian parents,
compared to heterosexual parents.”
As a mediator and a conflict resolution consultant, I am having an incredibly
difficult time understanding why it’s acceptable for the government to use
taxpayer money to fund organizations that discriminate against children under
their care and qualified prospective parents when LGBT people pay an equal
share of taxes. This type of absurdity is destined to occur when people refuse to
separate the person from the behavior.
Who’s engaging in unethical and immoral behavior by punishing individuals for
entering into committed relationships with other consenting adults, rather than
living their entire lives alone and celibate?
As a mediator, when dealing with conflicts involving differing values and moral
differences, it’s essential to develop mutual understanding and respect between
all the parties. But how do you develop mutual understanding and respect when
one side views a person’s sexual orientation as a “sin” and therefore insists on
trying to change it? How do you develop such things when one side falsely links
pedophilia to a person’s sexual orientation, when all the credible research reflects
that gays are no more likely to molest children or be sexually attracted to them
than are straight people? The only research reflecting otherwise falsely assumes
that a person who molests a child of their same sex is gay.
International mediators Tracy Allen and Eric Galton state, “The way we change
our minds on moral issues is by interacting with others, especially because we
are not good at seeking evidence that contradicts our beliefs.” That’s how you gain
emotional self-awareness.
As an example, consider a statement made by the Rev. Rob Schenck, a once
militant and very self-righteous evangelical minister who recently stated in an
interview with NPR’s Terry Gross, “I can certainly speak for myself in those times
and say that I was not the most self-aware. I really didn’t understand myself.”
Time will tell whether Congress will pass a version of the 2019 funding bill
for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education which
includes the amendment legalizing discrimination against LGBT people by
recipients of taxpayer money. If it does, it would be a reflection of moral decay
within our society and goes against the very principles which led to the creation of
our great nation. ■
Mediator Mark Baer is a Pasadena attorney who focuses his practice on confl ict resolution and mediating
divorces and child custody cases, among other types of family and interpersonal confl icts.
6 PASADENA WEEKLY | 08.09.18