Tag: Homosexuality

Judge Forces State to List Same-Sex Couples’ Names on Birth Certificates

Today Pulaski County Circuit Judge Timothy Fox issued a ruling forcing the State of Arkansas to put the names of three same-sex couples on children’s birth certificates.

Each couple has been legally married since the U.S. Supreme Court redefined marriage last summer, and each has a child conceived via an anonymous sperm donor.

In each case, only one spouse—the woman who actually gave birth to the child—is a biological parent of the child. According to the Department of Health, only the biological mother of the child may be listed on the child’s birth certificate; you cannot list the name of a second, unrelated “mother” on the certificate.

The three couples each sued the state, and today Judge Fox ruled in their favor, saying the the birth certificates can be amended to list a second “mother.”

Here’s the problem: Birth certificates exist to record that a child was born and who the child’s parents are—not who happens to be married to one of the child’s biological parents.

Birth certificates are not simply pieces of paper. They are vital records that need to be accurate and deserve respect. We should be careful not to let them become mere political ploys.

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A Guide for Parents: When a Loved One Says, “I’m Gay.”

Recently we have highlighted a number of resources on our website that are courtesy of our friends at Focus on the Family. These resources are available for you, your family, and your church, and they are designed to equip you to respond to today’s culture.

Our friends at Focus recently released a guide geared toward parents. It deals with how to respond when a loved one tells you, “I’m gay.” Jeff Johnston with Focus on the Family writes,

A 2015 study from the United Kingdom found that almost half of the 18-to-24-year-olds surveyed do not identify as ‘heterosexual.’ That’s right; 49 percent of the young adults in the poll placed themselves somewhere on the scale where homosexuality was an option. Another study by the same group found that in the U.S., almost one-third of young Americans don’t define themselves as ‘100-percent heterosexual.’

We live in a time where ‘sexual fluidity’ and the celebration of homosexuality are commonplace.

Johnston goes on to offer input and pointers on responding to family members who identify themselves as gay in a manner that is loving without compromising biblical truth.

You can download this new guide here.

You can also check out a number of similar guides on our Resources For Your Church and Family page.

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