Tuesday, 28th December 2010; PA
Sir Elton John has become a parent to a boy born on Christmas day.
The singer and civil partner David Furnish became parents to the 7lb 15oz baby boy.
The news was first reported by USMagazine.com and confirmed by John's Los Angeles-based publicist.
Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John was born in California via a surrogate, whose identity is being protected by the new parents.
Zachary is 62-year-old John's first child with the 48-year-old Furnish. The couple's civil partnership was formalised in 2005.
In a joint statement, the new parents told USMagazine.com that "Zachary is healthy and doing well" and they are "overwhelmed with happiness and joy at this very special moment".
[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]
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Selection of interesting comments:
M. Schembri
It was amusing to read most of the comments hereunder. Most are based on nothing more than personal opinions.
Those who really wish to know the facts (and not opinions) should take a look at a study conducted by the Ministry of Justice in Germany. The representative study analysis various aspects of Children development when raised in "rainbow families". ( English translation: http://www.bmj.bund.de/files/-/4251/living%20conditions_same%20sex%20civil%20parnterships.pdf )
Worth mentioning from the results is that children raised by same-sex parents are reported to show a higher self-esteem and reach above-average exam results (in school).
Andrea Shields
For the know-it-alls (warning: this stuff may bring a tear to your eyes):
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/oct/25/gay-adoption-fathers-parenting
Not the end of the world, see?
What really messes children up is being neglected and/or abused.
Elton John and David Furnish tried all they could to adopt a 14-month-old Ukrainian baby who was born with AIDS but they weren't allowed to do so.
Now, thanks to his straight parents and to whoever denied this adoption, this child will probably spend the first 16 years of his life in an orphanage (should he say thank you?) and then god help him make a life for himself.
If he doesn't make it that far, he'll have spent his very short life in the same orphanage without anyone who'll make him feel like the most important thing in their lives.
So next time you hear about children suffering all kinds of abuse in orphanages, just be thankful that there are gay people who want to take care of other people's children as if they were their own and that they are able to do it so well. Your disastrous macho mentality does not help here, as in anything else.
The biggest drawback which children raised by same-sex parents face is social discrimination from their peers in the form of teasing or abuse. Therefore, one can come to the conclusion that children can grow in a healthy environment ONLY when we adults/parents teach our children the social-values of tolerance and respect towards one another irrespective of their peers origin, race, etc.
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