F1010 Homosexual Families

The course aims at giving the students a better understanding of a new and possibly irritating phenomenon in modern (or: post-modern) western societies: the \"coming-out\" not only of individuals as being homosexual, but of homosexuality itself as an officially accepted lifestyle, and the opening of socio- legal institutions to homosexuals which have previously been strictly reserved to heterosexuals: partnerships, marriage, families. The phenomenon of homosexuality will be investigated in its historic, cultural, and religious dimension, including the legal reactions to recent changes of perception . The course will then introduce to the main scientific theories about homosexuality (especially psychology and biology) and the empirical evidence known today.
Based on these foundations, we will concentrate on the fundamental change, which has taken place in the Western world since the end of the 19th century: the fight for the decriminalisation, the move from tolerance to acceptance, the legal recognition and protection of homosexual family life, finding its utmost expression in homosexual marriage and parenting. In a first step, these developments will be studied from a bird\'s eye view, taking notice of the accompanying change of ideas, which were influenced by the social, political, economic and scientific environment of the last century. These developments have led not only to greater tolerance, but also to a different concept of homosexuality. In the next chapter, the course will deal in detail with the various forms of legal recognition of homosexual partnerships in different countries, up to the hotly debated issue of homosexual marriage (or: the gender-neutral definition of marriage). Some thoughts about the possible future and the shortcomings of present regulations will conclude this chapter.
The last chapter will concentrate on the relatively unexplored issue of the \"homosexual family\", starting with the question, how homosexual partners can get children at all. At this point, the students will get basic information about various forms of modern artificial reproduction techniques, and their relevance for homosexual couples. They will also be introduced to the main roads to legal parenthood for two homosexual partners, and the (not identical) issue of joint parental responsibility for a child of the family. In this context, the course will take up the disputed issue of the welfare of a child, which grows up with same-sex parents: prejudices, fears, empirical evidence, and the trend of modern legal regulations in this respect.\r\n

Learning Outcomes
The students should achieve a better and well-founded understanding of homosexuality as a biological, psychological, social and cultural phenomenon. They are expected to learn about the various historical perceptions and realities and the influence of religions on social and legal responses. They should know and understand the actual developments in (predominantly) Western societies, as the result of a fundamental change in these societies in the last 150 years. The course should enable them to form an opinion about possible future developments. Last, but not least, the students should become acquainted with the family dimension of homosexuality, especially the problems in physically getting children, in becoming legal parents and in becoming entrusted with the care and upbringing of children.