Article Review of "Homosexuality and Family Formation" by Cynthia Wagner

"Homosexuality and Family Formation" by Cynthia G. Wagner is an unbiased article regarding same-sex marriage and delving specifically into family formation and the effect of children on same-sex couples. Wagner starts the article off with facts regarding research on same-sex marriage and then translates this information into relevance regarding normalization of same-sex families. After weighing the many benefits of having children versus the few negatives of same-sex couples raising children, Wagner's neutral-toned article gives off the impression of leaning towards support for same-sex marriage and adding children to that equation.

Wagner first supports the topic by noting that "For the first time in its history, the U.S. Census Bureau will count gay marriages in its 2010 surveys" (article). The goal of this differentiation in the census is to create an accurate census on same-sex marriage, which in the past, have been incorrectly skewed to classify same-sex marriages as a opposite-sex marriage or just as same-sex couples, disregarding the marriage. This new accurate data should provide vital information to assist voters weigh the pros and cons of same-sex marriage and especially the effect that an "unconventional" household will have on childrearing. Wagner looks into issues affecting both the parents and the children such as re-forging relationships with grandparents, childrearing qualifications of same-sex couples and motivations as well as effects on the economy stemming from same-sex foster parents.

Written to publicize factual information regarding same-sex couples and their parenting, she builds upon foundations of research and facts in an unbiased tone to appeal to same-sex supporters. Though this article shows a lot more facts supporting same-sex couples and adoption versus opposing facts, the author maintains an unbiased voice in the article starting with her neutral thesis stating that there needs to be better and accurate research and statistics regarding same-sex marriage. The strong point of this article is that Wagner uses many different sources and materials to present her information. When applicable, she states quantitative facts from resources such as the US Census Bureau and other statistics. Other times she simply draws from her own observations or by interviewing people who are gay or lesbian or in some ways connected to gays.

Reading an article about same-sex couples and raising children, I expected this article to focus on the child side of the debate. The main heat of this argument against same-sex marriage is concern over whether having same-sex parents will negatively affect the children, but Wagner only addresses this issue once when referencing a study showing that "same-sex couples and homosexual singles applying for adoption tend to be older, better educated and have more economic resources than their heterosexual counterparts" (article). After addressing this issue, Wagner focuses mainly on the impact that raising children will have on same-sex couples in various low publicity arguments ranging such as the benefits to the economy of allowing same-sex couples to adopt and foster children, repairing or strengthening of relationships with the same-sex couples' parents or even oppositions to childrearing amongst same-sex marriage supporters.

Although Wagner maintains a neutral tone and thesis throughout the article, the majority of the information that she presents supports childrearing by same-sex couples.