March 29, 2007
Same-Sex Marriage????? (Armstrong Williams)
We live in a society that has grown more sensitive to people of the same sex marrying than ever before. Look at the field of presidential candidates, almost 60 percent of whom (no matter how they feel personally) are showing sympathy and tolerance for this so-called institution of marriage. It's also well known that many of these married couples, in order to legitimize their lifestyle, adopt children immediately: Pop psychologists and other experts will do their darnest to make a convincing argument, that what matters most is the child having a home with love and financial stability. What is often not discussed in these debates is the life expectancy of couples in same-sex marriage versus those in heterosexual unions. Did you know that the average spouse in a gay union lives to the age of 52, compared with age 77 for heterosexual couples? Let's just trace the history of these marriages. It’s critical that we separate what is factual from this powerful PR campaign. According to figures generated by the census bureaus of Denmark and Norway, in Denmark, the country with the longest history of gay marriage, between 1990 and 2002, men married to women died at a median age of 74, while the 561 partnered gays died at a median age of 51. In Norway, men married to women died at a median age of 77 and the 31 gays at a median age of 52. In Denmark, women married to men died at a median age of 78 compared to a median age of 56 for the 91 lesbians. In Norway, married women died at a median age of 81, as compared with 56 for the six married lesbians. Considering these statistics, do you now believe that vulnerable children should be raised in such an unstable environment?
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I find it amusing that Mr. Williams, given his credibility and track record, would discuss separating fact from "PR campaigns."
However, it is his accusation that a gay marriage is an "unstable environment" that is troubling. Perhaps overweight people or those with a history of disease in their families should also not be allowed to marry and have children.
Comment by Mike — March 29, 2007 @ 9:41 am
These statistics are a red herring.
1. By the time the parents die, even at the low numbers in the early 50s, the children will most likely be in their mid 20s. While of course it can always be a terrible blow to have your parents die, I would think by that point in their life they have grown up enough so that they will not be irreparably harmed by the loss of parents, assuming that these statistics are reliable (which I doubt).
2. I'm sure there are all sorts of different sub-groups with lower life expectancy rates. I'd be willing to bet that African American parents have a lower median age of death than the average figures that you quote. Does this mean that African American parents should not be allowed to have children, or adopt?
Comment by Cullen — March 29, 2007 @ 10:17 am
Thanks Armstrong for providing me with a dubious statistical argument to disguise my hatred of "the other".
Comment by Bigot — March 29, 2007 @ 11:05 am
"Thou shalt not be a homosexual" is not one of the commandments, but adultery is one.
If every Republican who has committed adultry, been divorced, or is a closet homosexual was required not vote, there would not be a GOP.
The day that Republicans admit that adultry and divorce are immoral and push for laws that take away individual rights because of the sins committed, then listen their debate about homosexuals will have merit.
Comment by The Centrist — March 29, 2007 @ 8:32 pm
It is rather amazing to me that someone of Armstrong William's stature would actually repeat a study by Paul Cameron as proof of anything other than bad science. Genuine researchers on both sides of this equation have long ago discarded his work as tainted and unreliable.
And to the author, please be professional enough to link to the source of studies you wish us to view as factual.
Comment by David Roberts — March 30, 2007 @ 3:45 pm
Only counting those who have died. To date.
Not to be rude, but what level of mathematics did you pass? You understand what the above means?
More the point: are you suggesting that when gays get a piece of paper this causes them to suddenly drop dead?
Silly beyond belief. And this will be repeated by people even sillier than yourself.
Comment by grantdale — March 31, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
Armstrong Williams is indicative of so many phony Xtians in which he is willing to repeat all sorts of lies about lgbts without even bothering to check the veracity of his sources:
On December 2, 1983, the American Psychological Association sent Paul Cameron a letter informing him that he had been dropped from membership. Early in 1984, all members of the American Psychological Association received official written notice that "Paul Cameron (Nebraska) was dropped from membership for a violation of the Preamble to the Ethical Principles of Psychologists" by the APA Board of Directors.
In 1985, the American Sociological Association (ASA) adopted a resolution which asserted that "Dr. Paul Cameron has consistently misinterpreted and misrepresented sociological research on sexuality, homosexuality, and lesbianism" and noted that "Dr. Paul Cameron has repeatedly campaigned for the abrogation of the civil rights of lesbians and gay men, substantiating his call on the basis of his distorted interpretation of this research."
The American Sociological Association officially and publicly states that Paul Cameron is not a sociologist, and condemns his consistent misrepresentation of sociological research. Information on this action and a copy of the report by the Committee on the Status of Homosexuals in Sociology, "The Paul Cameron Case," is to be published in Footnotes, and be sent to the officers of all regional and state sociological associations and to the Canadian Sociological Association with a request that they alert their members to Cameron's frequent lecture and media appearances.
In 2005, the Boston Globe spotlighted Cameron in an article entitled Beliefs Drive Research Agenda of New Think Tanks. According to the article, when the Traditional Values Coalition was asked about Cameron, the organization responded by allegedly removing all references to Cameron from its web page. A spokesperson for the organization, Daniella Lopez, said the research had been placed on the web page by mistake.
Comment by A. McEwen — April 1, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
[…] Well, Cameron's at it again, hijacking the Eastern Psychological Association's reputation once again to claim that gays and lesbians in registered partnerships in Denmark and Norway experience a lifespan up to 24 years shorter than their heterosexual counterparts. His latest claims are already being picked up by anti-gay activists, conservative news organizations, blogs, and pundits. Conservative columnist Armstrong Williams commented on Cameron's claims and asked, "Considering these statistics, do you now believe that vulnerable children should be raised in such an unstable environment?" It's only a matter of time before these statistics make their way into the mainstream media. […]
Pingback by Box Turtle Bulletin » Blog Archive » Paul Cameron’s “Scandinavian Gay Lifespan” Study — April 9, 2007 @ 8:45 am
[…] If you are gay, in a long term relationship and over 52, Paul Cameron says you are living on borrowed time. Anti-gay pundits are already quoting this newest bit of twisted logic from the discredited "researcher," but interestingly enough few are including his name or where they came upon the information. In the case of Exodus vice president Randy Thomas, there are at least two degrees of separation between his post on the subject and Cameron. […]
Pingback by Ex-Gay Watch » Master of Deception Paul Cameron Has a New Study — April 9, 2007 @ 9:00 am
This is the same Paul Cameron that told the 1985 Conservative Political Action Committee conference that "extermination of homosexuals" might be needed in the next three to four years. He has advocated tattooing AIDS patients in the face, and banishment to a former leper colony for any patient who resisted. He has called for gay bars to be closed and gays to be registered with the government.
Nice guy to associate with. Any other groups you want to add to your holocaust?
Comment by McE — April 13, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
Mr Williams stated:
>
Can you please elaborate where you get these 'facts'? And is the American Psychological Association entirely 'pop psychologists '? What does that mean?
It is sad that in this 21st century, men who have an education (and one who is black) insist on spreading HATE and nonsense in order to defend bigotry.
Shame on you.
Comment by kimoco — April 13, 2007 @ 9:11 pm
"*Pietrzyk claims that Cameron advocated the "extermination of male homosexuals."
Response: The Forum interviewer remarked that many societies have considered homosexuality a capital crime. Noting that it would be cheaper to kill homosexuals in primitive societies than jail or quarantine them is hardly an endorsement. In fact, Cameron is quoted in the same article as saying that such an idea is "not politically, ethically or socially acceptable" today. Where former Surgeon General Koop got his information is mystifying. He never asked Dr. Cameron whether he advocated such a policy."
http://www.familyresearchinst.org/Default.aspx?tabid=85
Comment by Phillips — June 22, 2007 @ 10:51 am
Thank you, Mr. Armstrong, for showing true science, even if it isn't "politically correct".
Comment by Phillips — June 22, 2007 @ 12:14 pm
If you give this article any credence, you should read this comment with such blind faith to understand that you are an idiot.
Comment by Todd — August 29, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
Why is it that the loudest homophobes are the biggest queens themselves? Learn to love yourself for the gay man you are Mr. Williams
Comment by David — September 8, 2007 @ 10:27 pm
YES MR WILLIAMS:
I KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS MET YOU, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE INCREDIBLY GAY YOURSELF: SPEAKING OF NEVER-BEFORE-MARRIED MEN IN THEIR 50S LIVING ON BORROWED TIME (LIKE YOUR CAREER), WHO LIVE IN OVER-THE-TOP, ULTRA-DECORATED HOMES ON CAPITOL HILL…HAHA!!!
SIGNED:
A GAY MALE WHO KNOWS ALLLL ABOUT YOU…
Comment by BRET — November 27, 2007 @ 4:27 pm