What if the way we define marriage is quietly reshaping childhood—for worse? We open the conversation with a child-first lens and ask the question most debates avoid: does public policy exist to validate adult desires, or to protect a child’s right to both mother and father? Katie Faust, founder of Them Before Us, joins us to explain how the 2015 redefinition of marriage flattened biological reality and turned parenthood into a credential adults acquire, often without the adoption safeguards designed to protect kids. From IVF mandates to loosened parentage rules, she traces how systems now subsidize motherless or fatherless homes by design, measuring success by adult fulfillment rather than child well-being.

We dig into the data and the vibe shift. Approval among conservatives has dropped as people connect the dots: if sex differences matter on the field and in the clinic, they matter even more at home. Pastors are finding their voice, too—teaching clearly that marriage is a child-serving institution rooted in the complementary gifts of men and women. Katie charts a three-part plan: reframe the public conversation around children’s rights, mobilize the church into a child-centered force, and pursue a legal strategy that changes the court’s question from “Do adults have dignity?”—yes—to “Do children need their own mother and father?” That pivot anchors policy in biology, safeguards adoption as child protection, and resists pathways that bypass rigorous screening.

Together we spotlight a growing coalition of scholars, faith leaders, and policy groups aligned on one message: don’t touch the kids. We share practical ways to get involved, equip your church, and speak with clarity at home, online, and in your community. If you’re ready to move beyond slogans and defend the smallest stakeholders with facts, conviction, and compassion, this is your roadmap. Subscribe, share with a friend who cares about family and child safety, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show.

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Kids First: Rethinking Marriage Policy - with Katy Faust