Mar 23, 2013
American Academy of Pediatrics Supports Marriage Equality
The American Academy of Pediatrics declared its support for same-gender marriage for the first time this week, saying that allowing gay and lesbian parents to marry if they so choose is in the best interests of their children.
The Academy’s policy statement says marriage equality helps guarantee rights, benefits and long-term security for children. When marriage is not an option, the Academy said, children should not be deprived of foster care or adoption by single parents or couples, whatever their sexual orientation.
The academy’s review of scientific literature began more than four years ago, and the result is a 10-page report with 60 citations.
The Academy cited research finding that a child’s well-being is much more affected by the strength of relationships among family members and a family’s social and economic resources than by the sexual orientation of his or her parents, saying “There is an emerging consensus, based on extensive review of the scientific literature, that children growing up in households headed by gay men or lesbians are not disadvantaged in any significant respect relative to children of heterosexual parents."
The policy statement comes as the Supreme Court prepares to heard oral arguments on the constitutionality of the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act" and Proposition 8, March 26-27.