‘Being raised by gay parents showed me why gay marriage is wrong’

A mother of four from South Carolina has announced that she is opposed to gay marriage, despite once advocating it.

Heather Barwick, who was brought up by a lesbian couple, wrote an article for web magazine The Federalist, saying that her opposition is based on the “nature of the same-sex relationship itself”.

She wrote: “Growing up, and even into my 20s, I supported and advocated for gay marriage. It’s only with some time and distance from my childhood that I’m able to reflect on my experiences and recognize the long-term consequences that same-sex parenting had on me.

“And it’s only now, as I watch my children loving and being loved by their father each day, that I can see the beauty and wisdom in traditional marriage and parenting.”

Heather argued that: “Same-sex marriage and parenting withholds either a mother or father from a child while telling him or her that it doesn’t matter.”

She said: “My father’s absence created a huge hole in me, and I ached every day for a dad. I loved my mom’s partner, but another mom could never have replaced the father I lost.”

Defending traditional marriage she added, “by and large, the best and most successful family structure is one in which kids are being raised by both their mother and father”.

She warned that: “Gay marriage doesn’t just redefine marriage, but also parenting. It promotes and normalizes a family structure that necessarily denies us something precious and foundational.”

Earlier this month another woman raised by a lesbian couple wrote an open letter to a US Supreme Court judge urging him not to redefine marriage.

Katy Faust, a blogger and mother of four wrote: “You don’t hear much from us because, as far as the media are concerned, it’s impossible that we could both love our gay parent(s) and oppose gay marriage. Many are of the opinion I should not exist. But I do, and I’m not the only one.”