Same Sex Marriages

            The English common law states that a marriage is a contract between a man and a woman to become husband and wife. Furthermore, the bible states that a marriage is between a man and a woman who love each other coming together to become one flesh. Marriage is a traditional institution that has existed in society for thousands of years. Recently there has been a movement to redefine this institution to include same sex marriage. The common law definition of marriage should not be changed to include same sex marriage, for these relationships do not provide the most suitable environment for raising a family, compromises Christian religious beliefs, and negatively impacts societies values and beliefs for future generations.
             Same sex marriages are not the most suitable environment for raising children. Children thrive when they have a mother and father living together as one family unit. Peggy Drexler, a psychologist from San Francisco, found that that the sons of lesbian couples are more "willing to consider a wider range of sexual orientation for themselves at younger ages, and think in more creative and inventive ways of structuring a family".
             (Pohlig) A family environment consisting of a child, his or her mother and father provide a beneficial environment for the development of a happy, healthy and well-adjusted child. Since parents have a huge impact on their children during the child's younger years their parent's sexual orientation can change the way the child perceives homosexuality. This can result in children following the belief system of their parents and thinking that the act of homosexuality is just another way of life. Although accepting homosexuality is potentially confusing for the child, the teasing that goes along with having gay or lesbian parents is even worse. In an article published in the Toronto Star talking about same sex marriage and its effects on a child it was said, "Ms.