Same Sex Relationships

Since its inception in 1982, ACFS had embraced all patients, regardless of age, marital status or gender preference. ACFS strongly believes that a full-service, state of the art, infertility program does not have the right to be judgemental and refuse treatment to any woman, single or married, gay or straight, unless there is a documented medical indication for not treating that person. Personal feelings and belief systems should have no place in deciding whether or not to help a woman pursue her most precious dreams. Clinics and physicians should not allow their personal opinions and beliefs to interfere with who they will care for and the advice that they give to their patients. The decisions that they make should never compromise their integrity or be dishonest, but should not reflect their personal viewpoint, only their best unbiasmedical judgement. ACFS believes a clinic's role is to absolutely support their patient's decision, whether or not they agree with it, as long as it is medically prudent and safe. Only if a patient asks, should a personal opinion be given. When asked at ACFS, "what would you do if you were me", the answer is, "it does not matter what I would do, what would you do"?

With 5-10% of the population being comprised of same sex relationships, clinics are bound to have a similar percentage of same sex couples inquiring about treatment options. ACFS makes no distinction between heterosexual and homosexual couples and strongly feels that both should be treated equally and non-judgementally, and without bias or prejudice. These couples are just as deserving and motivated as any other couple and, in ACFS experience, make equally good parents. As a side point, ACFS does not necessarily have an opinion on whether or not there should be a constitutional amendment recognizing gay marriages but feels strongly that same sex relationships should have the right to a civil marriage and all legal rights associated with that marriage, i.e. eligibility to their partner's health benefits, the right to adopt their partner's child and shared custody of that child if they became separated.Currently, there are very few states in the country that allow for these benefits, and Arizona is definitively not one of them.

Saul, as stated in the Bible, may have approved or disapproved of the same-sex relationship; but at least he appears to have recognized it. So, who can agrue with the Bible?

Liberal Christian theologians tend to follow a wider variety of translations, and to be more concerned with instances of copying errors in the original Hebrew or Greek, of forgery, and of biases among the translators. They consider some passages (e.g. those referring to slavery, burning some hookers alive, raping female prisoners of war, etc.) as not being valid today, as immoral, and against the will of God. They differentiate among various homosexual and heterosexual sex practices, treating some (rape, prostitution, temple sex rituals) as immoral and some (within committed relationships) as positive. Homosexual orientation and behavior is seen as a normal human sexual expression among a minority of adults. It is not changeable or chosen. Like all sexual behavior, it can be a sin if it is exploitive or manipulative or not carried out safely within a committed relationship.

Summary:

The Bible describes three emotionally close relationships between two people of the same gender. They appear to have progressed well beyond a casual friendship. There is, however, no unmistakable evidence that they were sexually active relationships. One is quoted below:

Ruth and Naomi

Ruth 1:16-17 and 2:10-11 describe their close friendship. Perhaps the best-known passage from this book is Ruth 1:16-17 which is often read out during opposite-sex and same-sex marriage and union ceremonies:

"Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." (NIV) Ruth 1:14, referring to the relationship between Ruth and Naomi, mentions that "Ruth clave onto her." (KJV) The Hebrew word translated here as "clave" is identical to that used in the description of a heterosexual marriage in Genesis 2:24:

"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." (KJV)