Tag: Bisexual Couples

Domestic Violence Occurs with Same-Sex Couples Too

Same-sex couples are very much like heterosexual married couples. Once the hoopla of the wedding is over and the honeymoon phase has shifted away, they also have to work and invest a lot into keeping the spark alive. 

Gay couples have an added incentive that can also bring more weight down on the shoulders of the relationship. The need to prove to the world that same-sex marriages are just as valid and can work just as well as straight ones. Still, one famous same-sex relationship has shed light on something completely different, that domestic violence occurs with same-sex couples, too (Denver Post.com). Enter Johnny Weir, ice skating Olympian, and TV commentator at the Sochi Olympics winter Olympics. To no one’s surprise, Weir came out as gay in 2011 and only one year later married his boyfriend, Victor Voronov. Weir had filed for divorce secretly. He returned home to find Voronov furious. The two engaged in a fight where Weir bit Voronov, who in turn filed criminal charges. Voronov decided to drop the charges and Weir and he tried to reconcile. Still, they could not make it work. TMZ and other tabloids followed the case and made a laughing stock of them.

But this case did bring to light that there is a lot we don’t know, and not a lot of research has been done regarding same-sex marriages.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated in a 2013 report that, “little is known about the national prevalence of intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and stalking among lesbian, gay, and bisexual women and men in the United States.” We do know that gay men have a 50% higher chance of being a victim of gay violence than straight men. Gay on gay violence is often portrayed as a joke in the media. Lots of silly movies and TV shows show gay men chasing each other about. But when it comes to actual cases of gay on gay violence, will the criminal justice system, the media and the general public stand up and take notice, or will it as the famous figure skating Olympian and his ex-spouse become the joke of the day?

Co-counsel on a landmark Adams County lawsuit challenging Colorado’s statutory and constitutional bans on gay marriage and University of Denver law professor, Tom Russell, says “Our conversation about marriage equality is incomplete unless we equally protect the rights of gay spouses once they enter a marriage.”

Adoption by Same Sex couples

Adopting by LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) persons may be done by a single person, couples of the same sex, or by a couple’s partner when the other has a biological child (by step-parent). Fourteen countries have legalized adoptions to couples of the same sex. The main concerns of people that oppose LGBTI adoption are if those couples can also have good parenting skills. Legalization takes place often on judicial opinions. Supporters say many children need homes and claim their ability to parent has no relevance to their sexual orientation. Opposition suggest the alleged drug use,

Suicides, domestic violence and promiscuity among homosexuals could affect the child or cause maladjustment with absence of both role models, male and female. Both sides agree the child’s welfare should dictate the policy.

Many organizations have given statements defending the adoption by same-sex partners. The American Psychological Association (APA) cites psychological health of gays and lesbians could be harmed, while their parenting doesn’t cause the children harm. The (AMA) American Medical Association and (ASA) American Sociology Association hold similar positions for same-sex couples adopting.

In Florida in 2008, a statute that forbids gay adoptions was struck down. The judge felt equal rights of protection had been violated, and that prohibiting adoption by gay parents was not rational since they were allowed to be foster parents. The decision was appealed by the state and the lower court’s decision was upheld. In 2010, the governor announced that the ban on LGBTI adoptions will be lifted, allowing their adoptions legal in Florida. In November, 2008, voters in Arkansas approved the measure of banning anyone from adopting children or be foster parents if they “co-habitate outside a valid marriage”. It was mainly written targeting gay people because same-sex marriages was prohibited, making it impossible to adopt. However, single lesbians and gay men could adopt.