Fighting for the Family

I ask you, what kind of world is it in which "family" has become a political issue, fraught with differing viewpoints and heated debates? In this video, we are asked if it is only the traditional man/woman/children scenario, or a situation in which "each of the members shares the responsibilities, the joys, the heartaches, and everything else that goes with being in a family...that is as valid a picture of family as any other because it is founded on love." Several gays are interviewed about their lives and family relationships, intermingled with the views of members of the Coalition for Parental Rights, who explain why same-sex relationships should not be encouraged within an educational environment. Though all the participants are well spoken, the program itself is somewhat scattered and unfocused. Issues such as child-bearing and rearing, teaching about the "gay lifestyle" in schools, problems of children of gays, and the origins of homophobia are raised, but not in a cohesive, comprehensive way. I would have liked more strictly outlined sections, rather than the more free-form approach used here. In any event, the tape may wind up preaching to the converted; those who don't accept more broadly defined family units might be too turned off by the wild hair colors, body piercings, and ponytailed men to see the sense in what these folks are saying. Not recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (K. Glaser)