The American court system operates on the basic principle that the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Unfortunately, the Texas Legislature faces no such restraint.
Considering the overall contempt many conservatives hold for the judicial system, this should surprise no one. Last week, the Texas House held an impromptu trial of social conservatives' favorite defendants: homosexuals.
Rep. Robert Talton, R- Pasadena, amended the omnibus Child Protective Services bill to ban homosexuals and bisexuals from serving as foster parents. It was a move that would cost the state around $8 million dollars per year and, according to the Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby, could remove as many as 3,000 children from their current homes.
Supporters of the prohibition cited fears of homosexual indoctrination and recruitment. Just for good measure, Cathie Adams of the Texas Eagle Forum added her concern that children in gay homes are more likely to be sexually abused.
Studies on gay parents, however, tells a different story. Reasearch complied by the American Psychological Association found "children born to and raised by lesbian couples also seem to develop normally in every way."
The same group also concluded, "Taken together, the data do not suggest elevated rates of homosexuality among the offspring of lesbian or gay parents." They concluded, "fears that children in custody of gay or lesbian parents might be at heightened risk for sexual abuse are thus without basis in the research literature."
Despite the ire of these conclusions among evangelicals, the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics both accept the findings.
The anecdotal evidence also stacked itself in favor of the loving homosexuals who open their homes and dedicate their lives to providing a family for neglected and often unwanted children.
Eva Thibaudeau and Christina Rodriguez have fostered 75 children over the last eight years, adopting four of them permanently. Stories like these filled the news in the days following the amendment's adoption, but what you did not see were stories of homosexual parents mistreating or neglecting the children they are charged to care for.
That is not good enough for the born-again crowd. We are talking about "sin," after all.
Talton produced only hearsay evidence but from a pretty substantial witness: "God created man, and he created woman, and he created marriage, and there is a reason for that. It's a tried and true method."
God was unavailable for comment as of press time.
The little voice inside Talton's head claiming to be God proved to be the most substantial witness for the 81 House members who supported the measure. In Texas, the burden of proof is borne by the sinner, and how exactly does one prove they are not going to harm a child? If the two women who lovingly cared for 75 kids cannot successfully make that claim, how could anybody?
Those accused of sinfulness must present themselves on the sacred altar built and maintained by government and beg for permission to live, to love and to contribute to the world in which they live.
Last week, the Texas House accused, tried and convicted homosexuals of harming children. The verdict came back: guilty as charged.
Unfortunately, the sentence would have to be served by ripping foster kids from loving homes (the one drawback of hating sinners more than you love children). Then again, you cannot oppress a group without breaking a few eggs.
Do not let the research fool you. God wants children kept away from gays and lesbians. When in doubt, just follow the mantra: better homeless than homo. Save the children. Amen.
- Jones is a government senior
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