Given that Fox provides a conduit for the radical right, Dr. Keith Ablow's vile, anti-LGBT on-air commentary isn't a surprise. But it is interesting that he would take proposed gender neutral language, on Tennessee legal forms, to rant about how this proposed change was just further proof that same sex families are destroying America.
It all started when Fox's resident Jesus loving, homo hating culture clubber, Todd Starnes, found out that OMG the state of Tennessee, after the legalization of same sex marriage, replaced the words "mother" and "father," in family court documents relating to child custody parenting issues and replaced them with OMG "parent 1" and "parent 2." An apoplectic Starnes, who saw this as yet another example of how "gay marriage activists" are tryiing to "deconstruct the American family," got the word out to heterosexual Christians who persuaded the state to reverse the policy until further review.
So naturally, as a conduit for Starnes perpetual outrage, Fox & Friends was on it. Last week, Brian Kilmeade not only provided a platform from which Fox's"Medical A Team" member used the gender neutral language to attack same sex parents - but he happily validated it.
Kilmeade reported that the TN court reversed the decision because of the outrage. (Hey, Fox News doing some community organizing!). As the propaganda banner read, "Turning the Tide, TN Reverses "Mother" and "Father" Ban in Docs," he asked "what were they thinking." (Note, it wasn't a "ban," it was a change based on a change in law.)
He introduced Ablow whom he described as an "all around smart person" and noted that Ablow thinks "this is all about redefining marriage" because "that's what the courts did." Ablow invoked the slippery slope argument in saying that when marriage is redefined, language is changed. He made totally bullshit claim that there is no "data about what it means to grow up in a same gender household." He made a bizarre statement about boys growing up with a woman with whom they have no "romantic connection." (WTF?) He repeated his claim that there is "no psychological data"
Kilmeade agreed and blurted something incoherent about how the judiciary shouldn't "have the emotional component in it, perhaps." He said he wasn't surprised by the "outrage" and noted that the change is being reconsidered by the Domestic Relations Committee which, according to Ablow, "should talk to the science committe" because "we have to study" this. He credited himself for predicting that - wait for it - "gay marriage paves the way for polygamy." The banner: "Rapid Reversal, Backpedal in Response to Widespread Outrage." He demanded more "scientific data." Kilmeade: "right."
Ablow opined that gay marriage is "creating a confusing situation for young people in America" and that "the entire country is losing its mind." He predicted that when we find out the ramifications of same sex parenting, "it might be too late."
So Ablow wants facts. The facts are that there are numerous studies, some of which were presented to the Supreme Court, showing that children of gay parents are no worse than those of straight parents. An Australian study shows that children of gay parents are happier and healthier. A California study indicates that children of lesbians scored higher in areas of confidence and self-esteen.
Given Ablow's lie that we have no data, it's not surprising that Media Matters named him "misinformer of the year on LGBT issues." They describe how he has taken his "toxic mix of homophobia and pseudoscientific anti-LGBT talking points to new lows." This was in 2011. Flash forward to 2015 and he's still keeping hate alive.
And BTW, gay parents can cross out "mother" and "father" and insert whatever they deem acceptable. But the question is, is this fair? Stay tuned.