Legalization Of Same-Sex Marriage In Children's Literature

One of the most controversial and critical questions of the modern society is same-sex marriage. Nowadays modified society norms introduce new things inexplicable before, and it causes an argument between advocates and opponents of these changes. Since June 26, 2015, same-sex marriage is legal in all states, and that is why the controversial issue of the necessity to include the images of same-sex parents in children's literature occurs. There are plenty of opinions on the issue which means there are many people who strongly support it and surely there are a lot of people who do not as they see it not appropriate for children. However, the question of same-sex marriage definitely should be presented and discussed in children's literature because

Some authors even call the argument a “culture war” of fairness morality and religious morality (Zhang and Counts 8). People who disapprove the legalization of same-sex marriage often argue that it is opposed to the religion, and thus they are considered to be more conservative than their opponents who advocate for LGBT rights and state that depriving these people of their right to marry and to be accepted in the society is not fair (Zhang and Counts 4-5). Surely, more liberal people lobby for the rooting out of all forms of discrimination including the discrimination of sexual minorities and vote for the change in the laws and people's attitude towards them. It is logical to assume that the higher approval rate leads to a change in people's ideology and as a result in law revision. The recently conducted research shows that the approval of same-sex marriage and gay rights has rapidly increased since 1996 which definitely shows the quick liberalization of public opinion that influenced the lawmaking (Erikson and Tedin 105). However, the inverse correlation is also true as it is proved that the legalization of same-sex marriages leads to a lower level of homophobia and overall prejudice in the society thus shaping people's views on the issue and changing their ideology (Hooghe and Meeusen 263). In such a manner, not only the

As children's literature provides children with the understanding of the society around them and their place in it, it is bound to affect their self-perception (Nodelman 134). The recent tendency in the children's literature creates the world in which children can explore their own inner talents and strengths on their own and through it better understand their own character and take up the right role model for the rest of their lives (Sammond 157). Yet, a lot of people exist in the modern society, and they are all different. The affiliation with one of them should be a person's conscious choice, and it cannot be performed without the knowledge of their existence and distinguishing features. Therefore, the controversial issues, including same-sex relationships, should be included in children's literature because they help children better understand their self and the world around them. Moreover, they show that it is perfectly normal to be different from other people and celebrate a child's own individuality. The profound knowledge of the existing cultural phenomena and the ability to reconcile oneself with them assists children and teenagers in a difficult way of self-acceptance and self-recognizing from which they only