Our necks craned as we peered up at the tiny television mounted from the classroom ceiling. The social studies teacher had put on a TV special about gay adoption. Two men appeared on screen, tears nudging the corners of their eyes as they talked with excitement about welcoming two sons into their family.
My friend Amber, whose eyes had been getting bigger and bigger as her mouth scrunched into a scowl of disapproval, suddenly blurted out, “Those kids are going to grow up messed. Up.”
I pivoted in my seat to face her, my mouth opening to respond, but she beat me to the punch. “Hey, I’m entitled to my opinion!”
Defeated, I slunk down into my seat. Usually, Amber and I enjoyed a bit of friendly debate, but she had no interest in discussing her beliefs today. And I couldn’t argue with her response.
Years later, now that gay adoption and marriage are both broadly legal and more accepted, attitudes like Amber’s are relics of (mostly) past belief systems. In addition, science increasingly provides us with verifiable answers to questions such as “What happens when kids are raised by gay couples?” Unfortunately, not only is bigotry persistent, but also the entitlement to one’s opinion continues, and with it, a conviction that one’s personal beliefs dictate reality.
