As to the matter of procreation, some same-sex couples do want children.

There are a couple of ways of accomplishing this. Perhaps the easiest method is adoption. Twice now, one of the same-sex couples I mention above have made trips to China, adopted infants from a Chinese orphanage, and are raising them. These kids are going to have a much better life with Steve ("Daddy") and Dave ("Papa") as their parents than they would have had otherwise. Granted, it's not a conventional family life, but it's far better for them than no family life at all. Steve and Dave are both attorneys and have the resources to see that these kids get good educations and have everything they need. There are a lot of kids in the world who are not so lucky.

Another couple (also both attorneys) have suddenly found themselves with four children. Surrogate mother, in vitro fertilization. Eric has a two year old son. And by the same surrogate mother, Jim wound up with triplets! Other than being a bit dazed, everyone is doing fine, thank you very much! And the kids are all at least half-related, through the mother.

By the way, both of these couples have female friends and relatives who spend a lot of time with the kids (baby sitting and such), so it's not as if the young 'uns are bereft of having women around.

And they have the support of their church whenever they might need it.

And GfS, ". . . as to a certain inner sadness that homosexuals had in common."

Which fortune cookie did you get that totally unsubstantiated bit of hokum from? Your half-vast experience as a "counselor," not doubt!

Don Firth