# Nickelodeon special on gay parents: Would you let your kids watch? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 18, 2002, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696 "2002-06-18T15:22:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696/161 "2002-06-21T19:27:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Last I heard, Christians didn’t follow the Koran. And atheists don’t follow the Bible, but that doesn’t stop WV\_Woman from telling us that “umm … the Bible says homosexuality is a no no.” So I thought it was appropriate to tell her what she was doing wrong according to a religion she doesn’t even follow since she feels it’s appropriate to do the same. But see how stupid I looked doing so? ---
**Author:** ![WV\_Woman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@WV\_Woman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WV_Woman)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696/162 "2002-06-21T19:30:07Z")
gobear, I agree with almost everything Dr. Laura says, but you’re right. She has absolutely no compassion and she is EXTREMELY judgmental. She needs to tone it down a bit … not change what she says, but how she says it. She’s like a bottle of vinegar, ya know? ---
**Author:** ![WV\_Woman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@WV\_Woman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WV_Woman)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696/163 "2002-06-21T19:33:08Z")
And that talk show of hers sucked, so I wasn’t upset to see it taken off the air, either. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696/164 "2002-06-21T19:55:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WV\_Woman \* > \*\* > And yet I have a sneaking suspicion it was A-OK with you when GLADD (was it them?) did their damndest to keep Dr. Laura’s talk show off the tube. \*\* Well, I don’t know what **musicguy** would say to that, but I think Dr. Laura is another good example of what needs to be seen and heard and argued against with facts. One **huge** problem I have with Dr. Laura is, unlike Robertson and Falwell who spread hatred through religion, Dr. Laura likes to give the impression that the hatred she spreads is backed up with science. From the steaming, yawning excrement filled hole that is Dr. Laura’s mouth: > [@](#): > > It’s not normal. It’s not in the best interest of children. This is a travesty that these two lesbians were given two little children, intentionally depriving them of a father. It’s despicable. It’s unhealthy. The psychological literature backs up what I’m saying. Not according to the American Acadamy of Pediatrics > [@](#): > > A growing body of scientific literature demonstrates that children who grow up with 1 or 2 gay and/or lesbian parents fare as well in emotional, cognitive, social, and sexual functioning as do children whose parents are heterosexual. Children’s optimal development seems to be influenced more by the nature of the relationships and interactions within the family unit than by the particular structural form it takes. More lies from the fecund brain of Dr. Laura: > [@](#): > > “[A]lthough numerically there are more pedophiles that are heterosexual, percentage-wise in a population, it’s much greater in the homosexual community. So there is some relationship. No, not every homosexual is a pedophile - obviously not - but it’s a greater percentage- much greater.” Not according to the research done. The psychology department at UC Davis > [@](#): > > The empirical research does not show that gay or bisexual men are any more likely than heterosexual men to molest children. This is not to argue that homosexual and bisexual men never molest children. But there is no scientific basis for asserting that they are more likely than heterosexual men to do so. And, as explained above, many child molesters cannot be characterized as having an adult sexual orientation at all; they are fixated on children. Some can argue that Dr. Laura is practicing hate speech and if any homosexual was attacked because of the lies she spreads, then she should be held responsible. Not me. I think she should have her stupid talk show-- but every station that plays it should make it absolutely clear that Dr. Laura does **not** speak with any kind of medical authority. It’s one thing to say that you disagree with homosexuality on _moral_ grounds, it’s quite another to spread lies disguised as medical facts. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696/165 "2002-06-21T19:59:53Z")
Let’s try those links again, shall we? American Association of Pediatrics [http://www.aap.org/policy/020008t.html](http://www.aap.org/policy/020008t.html) UC Davis [http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/facts\_molestation.html](http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/facts_molestation.html) Or what **gobear** said. With links and caveats. ---
**Author:** ![WV\_Woman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@WV\_Woman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WV_Woman)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696/166 "2002-06-21T20:03:32Z")
I don’t give a #\*%(# what the American Association of Whoever thinks, it is NEVER in the best interest of a child to grow up without a father (save for your hard cases). And I have never met my father so I think I know a little bit about this thankyouverymuch. ---
**Author:** ![WV\_Woman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@WV\_Woman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WV_Woman)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696/167 "2002-06-21T20:06:02Z")
Speaking of pedos, my elementary school principal turned out to be one. Yep. Finally got caught, tho. In jail now. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696/168 "2002-06-21T20:17:53Z")
Well, **WV Woman** , if you don’t care what actual doctors and research says, then on what grounds do you hold this belief of yours to be true? Here’s a hypothetical for you to chew on: I believe that all women from West Virginia have one eye. I don’t care what the actual _facts_ are! And I’m going to get a TV show and tell the nation about those one-eyed monstrosities that live in West Virginia. And if you try to counter me, well, your just a liberal bigot. ---
**Author:** ![WV\_Woman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@WV\_Woman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WV_Woman)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696/169 "2002-06-21T20:32:12Z")
Ever since the American Psychological Association came out and said that molestation didn’t hurt kids, I’ve been pretty wary of these medical organizations and their claims. Makes me wonder who funds their “studies” sometimes, ya know? PS: Doctors do not have the last say on the truth. ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696/170 "2002-06-21T20:33:09Z")
You know what, **WV\_Woman**? I personally think that in a perfect world, all kids should grow up with two parents, male and female. It probably would be best for the kids that way. But it’s impossible. Institutional care, foster care, even abandonment: these are realities that thousands of kids face instead. Meanwhile, there are thousands of gay people out there willing to do their best to give kids in need of adoption a loving home. Why shouldn’t they be allowed to give the kids who need a home a home? Even if it’s not the perfect home, it’s better than no home at all. You and I were both brought up in single parent households. I wish I’d had both parents around too. But I’m grateful as hell that I had a mom who worked her tail off to be the best mom she could be to us kids. It may not have been perfect, but it was a loving home. My partner and I were talking about adopting just yesterday. We’ve decided that in a couple of years, once we’re really secure in our relationship and our finances, we’d really like to begin the process of trying to adopt a kid. Specifically, a difficult-to-place kid, one of the older ones that are so hard to find a home for. We figure that it’s one of the best ways we can possibly find to make a positive difference in someone’s life. What’s wrong with that? ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696/171 "2002-06-21T20:36:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WV\_Woman \* > **Ever since the American Psychological Association came out and said that molestation didn’t hurt kids, I’ve been pretty wary of these medical organizations and their claims.** Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696/172 "2002-06-21T20:42:25Z")
First **WV** , I know you’ve got a problem with this word (and now that I know how you feel about facts I can understand why) but, cite please. Also, I’d like to know: How do you come to your conclusions about homosexuals (and raising children and what medicines to take and why gravity works and. . . just about everything you believe to be true) if doctors and studies are not to be trusted just by virtue of them being doctors and studies? ---
**Author:** ![musicguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@musicguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/musicguy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696/173 "2002-06-21T20:53:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biggirl \* > \*\* > > Well, I don’t know what **musicguy** would say to that, but I think Dr. Laura is another good example of what needs to be seen and heard and argued against with facts. > > \*\* Here is the fundamental difference as I see it between the Kickelodeon show and “Dr” Laura. The premise of the nickelodeon show was that there are group of kids that get harrassed every day because of their parents choices. There was no “agenda” on that show. Anyone who saw it, realizes this. Unfortunately, the people who were most vocal about the show never even checked it out to see what it is about. They got their information from someone else and believed it without forming an opinion of their own. Dr Laura’s show on the other hand, does have an agenda, an anti-gay agenda. She tells lies that are not backed up by professionals in the field, like _real_ doctors. Now, when someone who hates gays puts her show on (and I’m not saying you do, VW\_Woman) they are getting justification for their twisted beliefs (We do all believe that hatred is wrong, don’t we?). She is helping to spread ignorance. At least the Nick show, represented both sides. When is the last time that Dr. Laura did that? The answer is never. Because she can’t back up her “medical information” from _non-biased_ sources. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696/174 "2002-06-21T21:00:03Z")
to be fair, **musicguy** Dr. Laura’s ignorance did not merely rest in her obvious homophobia. IIRC, there were several pit threads about specific shows of hers where she _eventually_ had to admit that she really didn’t know a whole fuck of a lot about the subject she’d spouted about (damn - can’t spell it. Tourettes’ Syndrom? was one very specific, where she ended up having to post an apology of sorts on her web page). ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696/175 "2002-06-21T21:31:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WV\_Woman \* > **Ever since the American Psychological Association came out and said that molestation didn’t hurt kids, I’ve been pretty wary of these medical organizations and their claims.** Unless you can provide a citation for this, I’m going to assume it’s a hyperbolic fabrication. ---
**Author:** ![grendel72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/91b2a8/32.png) [@grendel72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grendel72)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696/176 "2002-06-21T21:40:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WV\_Woman \* > **Speaking of pedos, my elementary school principal turned out to be one.** I’ve read this whole thread, and no one _was_ speaking of pedophiles. ---
**Author:** ![musicguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@musicguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/musicguy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696/177 "2002-06-21T21:41:43Z")
By the way, even though she acts like a Psychiatrist, it is important to note this. Dr Laura holds a PhD from Columbia University in Physiology, legally giving her the right to use the term “Dr” in front of her name but she is not a licensed Psychiatrist. ---
**Author:** ![musicguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@musicguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/musicguy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696/178 "2002-06-21T21:47:42Z")
My point of the last post being… Just because it acts and talks like a duck, don’t mean its a friggin duck. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696/179 "2002-06-21T23:46:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by grendel72 \* > \*\*I’ve read this whole thread, and no one _was_ speaking of pedophiles. \*\* **Biggirl** brought it up to counter some Dr. Laura lies. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696/180 "2002-06-21T23:53:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cervaise \* > \*\*Unless you can provide a citation for this, I’m going to assume it’s a hyperbolic fabrication. \*\* The APA (I think) came out and said that not all sexual relations between a minor and an adult were harmful enough were therapy was advised. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nickelodeon-special-on-gay-parents-would-you-let-your-kids-watch/114696.md?page=10)