Hello, my name is Taisce and I was raised by a pair of lesbian mums.
by Taisce Gillespie
It utterly shocked me to realise that some people would be unsure whether or not I was in favour of a referendum to ensure that gay people are recognised as equal by law. Of course I am. I am currently away travelling, so thankfully have been spared much of what appears to be a pretty distasteful debate back home.
For me the issue in question is one of equality. Are homosexual people equal to heterosexual people? Of course they are. Should they be treated equally by the law? Of course they should. The more equal a society is, the happier and healthier it is.
Taisce with his girlfriend Kate
Much of the debate seems to be centering on gay people’s suitability to raise children. I don’t think this is the core issue in question.
However, as others seem to think that it is, I would like to share my experiences growing up with lesbian mothers.
Before I begin, I want to acknowledge the limits of this piece. It is just my story; it is a happy story, but it is just one person’s experience. I’m sure there are stories wherein gay parents have failed their duties as parents, just as there are countless instances of straight parents failing their children.
So my story is admittedly limited in its scope, I just hope that it might be enough to make some people stop and consider what really matters when considering a person’s or a couple’s suitability as parents, and to help them realise that it has absolutely nothing to do with sexuality or gender.
Taisce with his two mums
I grew up in an environment of abundant love. Love is the key element in a child’s development. While food and shelter are obviously needed too, if a child is unconditionally loved it will thrive.
My immediate family consisted of me, my biological mum, my other mum, and my two brothers (who are from my other mum’s previous marriage).
My biological father was a sperm donor who I know nothing about and I’m pretty sure knows nothing of me. It can be quite confusing for people, but I managed to figure it out pretty quickly.
Aside from my mothers’ sexuality we are a pretty normal family. Of my childhood I remember mainly joy, laughter, and happiness.
Naturally I also remember some tears and fights, but these were much much less frequent. I remember watching Star Trek and the A-Team together. I remember music evenings where friends and family would come together to celebrate life. I remember tickle fights with my brothers. I remember my mums reading me stories together as I fell asleep.
These are all admittedly viewed through the rose-tinted glasses of nostalgia for one’s childhood, but on an objective level also, it was totally awesome.
The ‘No’ campaign are citing a child’s need for both a mother and a father as a main reason to vote no. I never had a father and I don’t feel like it affected me in any negative way, so I utterly refute this claim.
What children need during their development are positive role models who will provide them with all the love and support they need in finding their way in life. The gender and sexual orientation of these role models is entirely irrelevant.
While I don’t have a father, I did grow up with some wonderful male role models, and I feel like this would always be the case. Children with same sex parents will always find role models in their lives from the opposite sex. I was extremely close with my two older brothers, their father and my uncle.
A family gathering
I also found many other male role models along the way, family friends, teachers, football coaches and Captain Planet.
That being said it was my mums who helped me to figure out shaving, were the biggest fans of my football career (even if they never did understand the offside rule), and gave me increasingly cringe inducing sex-talks throughout puberty and adolescence.
I grew up surrounded by many gay people and I had a great time. I think gay people are amazing, I mean they are exactly the same as everybody else, but I feel that because society has generally forced them at some point to stop and really consider who and what they are, they often have an added depth or wisdom.
This is an invaluable asset to any would-be parent. Is life not all about discovering who we are and where we fit into this crazy world? To have a parent who has been forced to face these issues head on is an amazing resource for any child finding his or her way.
Taisce admits he was made to wear pink a lot
People wonder whether it’s difficult for a child from a gay household to relate to their peers. Yes, it can be, especially during the phase when all you want to do is fit in.
But, I remember being teased much more for having an English accent or for being chubby; kids will always find something if they want to. I think my peers were too scared to bring up my lesbian parents, it was so alien to most of them that they considered it out-of-bounds or taboo.
I do recall somebody wittily changing my name from Taisce Gillespie to Taisce Gay-lesbian, classic schoolboy stuff, but that was as bad as it got. Ultimately we all have to come to terms with where we come from and the things that make us different, and now it’s a great conversation piece.
A bigger issue has been seeing my family described as dysfunctional. None of these people had ever seen my family closely enough, or at all, to make a judgement on whether or not, or how well we function, but this didn’t stop them.
Grown-ups
It is this narrow-mindedness that leads people to confuse ‘unconventional’ with ‘dysfunctional’. On May 22nd we have a wonderful opportunity to leave behind and make real progress as a nation.
The ‘No’ campaign would have you believe that babies will suddenly be dispatched to every gay couple who fancies giving parenthood a whirl. This is false. For straight couples today the adoption process is an arduous drawn out process.
This won’t change, the thorough vetting procedure will rightly remain in place to ensure that any potential adoptive parents will be able to provide a suitable home to raise a child.
All that will change is that a large sub-set of our society won’t be automatically disqualified on the basis of their sexuality, something which has no relevance to one’s suitability as a parent. Unfortunately the attitude of society forced my parents to suffer incredible abuse and difficulties simply because they wanted to provide a loving home to a child they could cherish.
The Charlie Sheen tribute act
I was incredibly lucky to be that child and be raised by two beautiful human beings who provided me with all the love and everything else that I needed in order to flourish in life. The situation as it stands is wrong and needs to change.
If my mothers didn’t struggle to find a way to create and raise a child 26 years ago I would not be here today.
Please, if you are considering voting ‘no’, stop and truly consider why? Why do you think that gay people deserve to be treated differently to you? Do you really think that they are an unequal member of society?
Try and recognise the scare tactics of the ‘No’ campaign for what they are; out of date, backward, and entirely baseless, not to mention embarrassing. As a child raised by gay parents I can tell you that it was the same as your childhood in every way that matters.
Please, if you are considering voting yes, make sure you do.
There is a large proportion of the population who cling to traditional values with a blind and fervent fundamentalism and they will definitely vote. We need to make sure that everyone who can gets to the polling booth and helps move Ireland forward.
This article first appeared here.
Taisce is currently in Nepal aiding the Earthquake relief effort. To donate, click here.
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