Cheryl Wetzstein
Articles by Cheryl Wetzstein
Abortion activists concur: Presidential vote paramount
In the wake of the Supreme Court's stunning ruling on health care, activists on both sides of the abortion issue have pledged to bring the full weight of their movements into the November election battles. Published July 1, 2012
How could Sandusky’s wife not know?
Perhaps one of the most shocking witnesses at the child-molestation trial of Jerry Sandusky was his wife of 46 years, Dorothy, known as Dottie. Published June 26, 2012
Private groups in Illinois ‘proud’ to defend marriage
A traditional-values advocacy group says it will intervene to file legal papers this week in support of an Illinois marriage law, after officials in the Democrat-dominated state government refused to defend the law in court. Published June 20, 2012
Report shows bounce in bouncing babies
Two-thirds of U.S. pregnancies now end with the birth of a baby, a significantly higher rate than in 1990, when abortions were one-third more common than now, a federal report says. Published June 20, 2012
Gay-marriage backers seek to turn tide in votes in 4 states
Gay marriage dominates the list of "social-issue" ballot measures going to voters this year, with amendments for and against same-sex unions up in four "blue" states: Published June 17, 2012
Gay parenting studies disputed by association
Amid a firestorm of criticism over a pair of new studies on gay parenting, the world's largest organization of psychologists has affirmed its own position that sexual orientation is not a factor in parental fitness. Published June 13, 2012
Study suggests risks from same-sex parenting
Two studies released Sunday may act like brakes on popular social-science assertions that gay parents are the same as — or maybe better than — married mother-father parents. Published June 10, 2012
Study: Children fare better in traditional mom-dad families
Two studies released Sunday may act like brakes on popular social-science assertions that gay parents are the same as — or maybe better than — married, mother-father parents. Published June 10, 2012
LGBT teens find fitting in difficult
A first-of-its-kind survey of 10,000 American youth who say they are a sexual minority finds that most feel accepted by their families, but they often struggle with community acceptance and even believe they will have to leave their hometowns to be happy someday. Published June 7, 2012
Bill would ban therapies to ‘change’ young gays
The California state Senate has passed a bill that supporters say could be the first in the nation to ban a form of psychotherapy aimed at making gay people straight. Published June 3, 2012
Boston court hands same-sex marriage backers big victory
A Boston federal appellate court ruled Thursday that the federal law defining marriage as between a man and a woman is unconstitutional, handing gay-marriage proponents their biggest judicial victory to date and driving the issue closer to a Supreme Court showdown. Published May 31, 2012
Dems succeed in sinking bill against sex-selection abortion
The House rejected a bill to ban sex-selection abortion Thursday despite calls from House Republicans to take a stand on a practice that has resulted in the estimated deaths of 200 million unborn girls around the world. Published May 31, 2012
Debate heated on sex-selection abortion ban
The House of Representatives Wednesday debated but did not immediately vote on a bill to outlaw abortions based solely on the basis of sex. Published May 30, 2012
25 gay couples sue to overturn Illinois marriage law
Twenty-five gay and lesbian couples have sued to overturn an Illinois state marriage law, saying it is unconstitutional to deny them the right to marry. Published May 30, 2012
Bill would outlaw abortion for sex selection
Congress is set to wade into one of the most sensitive topics in the abortion debate, with a House vote Wednesday on a bill that would ban abortions that are performed solely because of an unborn child's sex. Published May 29, 2012
Stop-smoking efforts don’t see money
States have collected billions of dollars from tobacco companies but spent only 3 percent of it to combat smoking - a less-than-robust response to the high costs of health care associated with smoking, a federal report released Thursday says. Published May 24, 2012
‘Pro-choice’ Americans found in record-low minority
A record low 41 percent of Americans identify themselves as "pro-choice" on abortion, according to a poll released Wednesday, while the number of Americans who say they are "pro-life" bounced back into the majority. Published May 23, 2012
House approves violence bill
The House passed a domestic-violence bill Wednesday along largely party lines despite a warning from the White House that President Obama would veto it. Published May 16, 2012
Study could end ban on gay men donating blood
The federal government has one study in a planning stage and three studies under way that could eventually provide evidence to end the ban on blood donations from all gay men, a federal official said Wednesday. Published May 16, 2012
Bill offers benefits to gay partners
In the wake of President Obama's shift last week in support for gay marriage, a Senate panel announced plans to mark up a bill Wednesday that would extend marital and retirement benefits to federal employees in same-sex domestic partnerships. Published May 14, 2012