Speaking of the misuse of research studies for ideological purposes, check out Senator Al Franken (D-Minn) calling out apparent homophobe Tom Minnery, who represents a group of conservative christian extremists calling themselves “Focus on the Family”, during a Senate hearing on the repeal of The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
In a nutshell, Minnery had misinterpreted a 2010 study by the Department of Human and Health Services in support of his conclusion that …
“… children living with their own married, biological, and/or adoptive mothers and fathers were generally happier and healthier, had better access to health care; less likely to suffer mild or severe emotional problems; did better in school; were protected from physical, emotional, sexual abuse; and almost never live in poverty compared with children in any other family form.”
Franken pointed out that he had read the study, and this is not what it said.
“I checked the study out,” said Franken, “and I would like to enter into the record, if I may, it actually doesn’t say what you said it says. It says that nuclear families — not opposite sex married families — are associated with those positive outcomes. Isn’t it true, Mr. Minnery, that a married same sex couple that has had or adopted kids would fall under the definition of a nuclear family in the study that you cite?”
Minnery responded that he thought nuclear family, as defined in the study, meant one headed by a husband and wife.
“It doesn’t,” Franklin responded. “The study defines a nuclear family as one or more children living with two parents who are married to one another and are each biological or adoptive parents to all the children in the family. And I frankly don’t really know how we can trust the rest of your testimony if you are reading studies these ways.”
There was much laughter in the chamber during the exchange.
The authors of the study confirmed (via Politico) that Franken’s interpretation of the study was correct and said the study does not provide evidence that straight couples’ children necessarily fare better than same-sex couples’ kids, as Minnery had so hopefully claimed.
Of course, this won’t change the minds of the religious nutters who go around spouting this nonsense, but it still felt good to watch nonetheless. Minnery and his colleagues should know better than to expect to find empirical evidence to support their claims. Anyhow, why should they need evidence? They’ve got their faith!
Neuropoly 