A Huge Step Forwards: Obama Acknowledges Gay Parents

Words of common sense from the White House – who would’ve thought?
In his Father’s Day speech, Barack Obama acknowledged same-sex parenthood.

Fatherhood also carries enormous responsibilities. An active, committed father makes a lasting difference in the life of a child. When fathers are not present, their children and families cope with an absence government cannot fill. Across America, foster and adoptive fathers respond to this need, providing safe and loving homes for children facing hardships. Men are also making compassionate commitments outside the home by serving as mentors, tutors, or big brothers to young people in their community. Together, we can support the guiding presence of male role models in the lives of countless young people who stand to gain from it.

Nurturing families come in many forms, and children may be raised by a father and mother, a single father, two fathers, a step father, a grandfather, or caring guardian.

(My bold.)

Finally, somebody in american politics talking sense about parenthood, and acknowledging that a parental bond is not dependant on biological kinship. This is a defintion of family that I can agree with. What makes a good parent is the quality of the parenting, as simple as that. A loving, biologically unrelated father is better than an abusive biological one.

It reminds me of what Obama said on Father’s Day in 2008:

We need fathers to recognize that responsibility doesn’t just end at conception. That doesn’t make you a father. […] What makes you a man is not the ability to have a child- any fool can have a child. That doesn’t make you father. It’s the courage to raise a child that makes you a father.”

It seems that gay rights are making progress and gaining acceptance in the US. It’s about time for that.