View series intro\u00a0here<\/a>, and all posts\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n HSLDA opposes marriage equality. This is perhaps the oddest entry of my \u201cThings HSLDA Opposes\u201d so far. By and large, we have been able to link HSLDA\u2019s opposition to things that are not homeschool related\u2014such as required eye examinations for public school students\u2014to their position on parental rights. This one seems more removed. And yet.<\/p>\n HSLDA helpfully explains this position in a page titled Why HSLDA Is Fighting Same-Sex Marriage<\/a>. Let\u2019s take a look!<\/p>\n Parental rights are a recognized constitutional right despite the fact that they are not explicitly stated in the Constitution. It is a fair question to ask: if they are implied rights rather than explicit rights, what is the source of parental rights? Here is what the Supreme Court said in 2000 in the case of\u00a0Troxel v. Granville<\/i>:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOur jurisprudence historically has reflected Western civilization concepts of the family as a unit with broad parental authority over minor children. Our cases have consistently followed that course.\u201d<\/p>\n Thus, you can see that parental rights are based on \u201cwestern civilization concepts of the family.\u201d<\/p>\n When those concepts are no longer the legal definition of the family in this nation, then the foundation upon which parental rights are based is completely removed.<\/p>\n In a world which widely embraces the notions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, it is fanciful to believe that any other theory will arise to replace the traditions of western civilization as a basis for parental rights.<\/p>\n Therefore, HSLDA will continue to fight against same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage attacks the traditions of the family in western civilization. This is an attack on parental rights. This is a battle the homeschooling movement cannot afford to lose.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n So, let\u2019s see. Basically, the argument goes like this: Same-sex marriage will mean the collapse of traditional Western concept of the family, which is the foundation of parental rights. Without the traditional western concept of the family, the U.S. will join the rest of the world in espousing the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, which will mean the end of parental rights.<\/p>\n Never mind that the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child<\/a> says things like this:<\/p>\n States Parties shall respect the responsibilities, rights and duties of parents . . .\u00a0to provide, in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child, appropriate direction and guidance in the exercise by the child of the rights recognized in the present Convention.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child does not end parental rights. It simply states that children have rights\u2014such as the right to not be abused, or the right to have adequate food\u2014and that both parents and the state should\u00a0strive to meet those rights.<\/p>\n That that is really beside the point. HSLDA\u2019s connection between same-sex marriage and the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child is itself a huge leap. I think it much more likely that the legal system will simply apply current family law to same-sex marriages than that the existing foundations of family law will collapse. I suppose you could argue that further disconnecting child rearing from biology represents a threat to traditional understandings of parental rights, but in that case, shouldn\u2019t HSLDA oppose adoption as a threat as well? Or remarriage?<\/p>\n And of course, it\u2019s worth mentioning that HSLDA makes another leap as well. HSLDA defends parental rights and opposes the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child in large part because they argue that homeschooling is based on parental rights, and that the Convention is a threat to both parental rights and homeschooling. But this isn\u2019t necessarily true. HSLDA opposes the Convention\u2019s \u201cbest interests of the child\u201d standard, arguing that it conflicts with parental rights (and, presumably, with homeschooling), but this presumes that homeschooling will be found to not be\u00a0in children\u2019s best interests.<\/p>\n Wouldn\u2019t it be better to focus on showing that homeschooling can be in children\u2019s best interests? Why instead focus on fighting the best interests standard itself?<\/p>\n I\u2019m not going to go through every piece of legislation HSLDA has supported or opposed in its fight against marriage equality, except to say that it is many, and that in many cases HSLDA has urged its members to make calls. Here\u2019s an example<\/a>:<\/p>\n May 8, 2007<\/span> But there are more, too.\u00a0North Carolina<\/a>. Pennsylvania<\/a>. New Mexico<\/a>. Virginia<\/a>. Connecticut<\/a>. Delaware<\/a>. Illinois<\/a>. Iowa<\/a>. Maryland<\/a>. Michigan<\/a>. Rhode Island<\/a>. Hawaii<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s interesting how HSLDA has managed to turn marriage equality into a threat to homeschooling, isn\u2019t it? The line they draw from here to there is shaky at best and filled with unsupported leaps. Still, I have to admit that I am in fact a little bit impressed. I would expect HSLDA\u2019s conservative Christian leadership to oppose marriage equality. But tying the legality of homeschooling to opposition to same-sex marriage? That takes some imaginative thinking right there!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It’s interesting how HSLDA has managed to turn marriage equality into a threat to homeschooling, isn’t it? The line they draw from here to there is shaky at best and filled with unsupported leaps. Still, I have to admit that I am in fact a little bit impressed. I would expect HSLDA’s conservative Christian leadership to oppose marriage equality. But tying the legality of homeschooling to opposition to same-sex marriage? That takes some imaginative thinking right there! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":845,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[465],"class_list":["post-24694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-things-hslda-opposes"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
Illinois: Your Calls Needed to Protect Traditional Marriage<\/span>
Dear HSLDA members and friends:<\/span>
Last week we told you about H.B. 1826, the bill that would change\u00a0<\/span>
traditional family values in Illinois by creating civil unions. The\u00a0<\/span>
bill passed the House Human Services Committee, and was supposed to\u00a0<\/span>
receive a vote by the full House before May 3, 2007. However, this\u00a0<\/span>
bill has had its action deadline date extended until May 10, 2007.<\/span>
Please, keep calling your state representative!<\/span>
ACTION REQUESTED<\/span>
Call your state representative and give this message:<\/span>
\u201cPlease oppose legislation that recognizes same-sex marriage. Please\u00a0<\/span>
vote against House Bill 1826, which is an attack on traditional\u00a0<\/span>
marriage; it erodes the family and endangers parental rights.\u201d<\/span>
Go to http:\/\/capwiz.com\/hslda\/state\/main\/?state=IL&view=myofficials to\u00a0<\/span>
find contact information on your state representative.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n