Dr. James Barbour, UVM professor emeritus ("Anti-gay-marriage group has it wrong," Feb. 18) got me "all wrong." My defense of traditional marriage was from the data, period. Had he viewed the forum at www.vermontmarriage.org he would have known that.
After 15 years, the debate is now over among the top sociologists in the country, as Dr. Barbour must know: The research shows the intact marriage of biological parents is the best at raising children. Traditional marriage is a foundational institution for the good of society because it is best for children. All Americans need to work to restore traditional marriage for the sake of our children, all of whom have the right to the loving marriage of the man and woman who brought them into the world.
There are totally insufficient sociological data on the comparative effects of gay unions on children's development; all the studies used by gays are from small and thus possibly biased samples. An honest debate on the effect of gay unions on children requires samples of national size -- samples which Dr. Barbour must know do not currently exist. I am interested in getting such federal research accomplished and in working with gay advocacy groups to make it happen. Until then, to formulate radically new policy in the absence of such data is unwise.
There are economic, educational, legal, philosophical and religious aspects to this debate. But as a fellow social scientist I ask Dr. Barbour to engage me on the sociological data, not on personal attacks.
PATRICK F. FAGAN
Washington, D.C.