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Emit

(11,213 posts)
Fri Mar 22, 2013, 10:11 AM Mar 2013

The American Academy of Pediatrics declared its support for same-sex marriage

(Reuters) - Gay and lesbian couples should be able to get married for the health and well-being of their children and families, the nation's leading group for pediatricians said on Thursday in a policy statement that also backs adoption rights.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, in calling on the legal right for same-sex couples to marry, said children's well-being is affected far more by other factors such as their parents' health and economic security than their sexual orientation.

"It is better that children have two parents than one parent, and assuming that these parents love each other and love the child and have economic and social security and stability, then that's the critical ingredient for the optimal growth and development of the child," said Dr. Benjamin Siegel, head of an AAP committee that studied the issue.

Siegel said the academy's board of directors voted unanimously for the organization, which represents 60,000 pediatricians, to support same-sex marriage as well as the right for gay parents to adopt or foster children.

~snip~
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/21/us-usa-gaymarriage-pediatricians-idUSBRE92K0O320130321

Here's the link to the AAP article: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2013/03/18/peds.2013-0377

Promoting the Well-Being of Children Whose Parents Are Gay or Lesbian

Ellen C. Perrin, MD, MA,
Benjamin S. Siegel, MD,
the COMMITTEE ON PSYCHOSOCIAL ASPECTS OF CHILD AND FAMILY HEALTH


Abstract

Extensive data available from more than 30 years of research reveal that children raised by gay and lesbian parents have demonstrated resilience with regard to social, psychological, and sexual health despite economic and legal disparities and social stigma. Many studies have demonstrated that children's well-being is affected much more by their relationships with their parents, their parents' sense of competence and security, and the presence of social and economic support for the family than by the gender or the sexual orientation of their parents. Lack of opportunity for same-gender couples to marry adds to families’ stress, which affects the health and welfare of all household members. Because marriage strengthens families and, in so doing, benefits children’s development, children should not be deprived of the opportunity for their parents to be married. Paths to parenthood that include assisted reproductive techniques, adoption, and foster parenting should focus on competency of the parents rather than their sexual orientation.


NOM Responds:

Washington, D.C. — "We are disappointed that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has taken the transparently political step of endorsing same-sex marriage in an attempt to influence the US Supreme Court. They have done a grave disservice to America’s children by endorsing a policy that intentionally deprives children of either a mother or a father. Their position seems to be that the unique contributions of both mothers and fathers do not matter. Which parent can a child do without — her mother or her father? The AAP has not conducted any new research to justify their preposterous conclusion, adding evidence that it is a political act, not a scientific one. Instead, they have reviewed a series of studies produced by gay marriage advocates that were all designed to show positive outcomes for children. As was reported by respected Louisiana State University researcher Loren Marks, virtually every study to date has involved small samples and hand-selected participants. None of them utilize large-sample, randomly selected participants — a key requirement to rigorous research. One recent large-scale random sample study that has been produced by University of Texas researchers found that those raised in a same-sex household fared worse than those raised in intact heterosexual families on two-thirds of outcomes measured. Nowhere in the AAP statement do they address the confounding scientific evidence by Regnerus, Marks, Sirota and Allen — all published in peer-reviewed journals. The AAP simply ignores them. We remain confident that the US Supreme Court will uphold the ability of states and the federal government to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman, a definition that has served our nation well for hundreds of years."
http://beforeitsnews.com/opinion-conservative/2013/03/nom-responds-to-aap-news-2604446.html

And Lizz Winstead Has A Message for NOM



http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/look-lizz-winstead-has-a-message-for-nom/politics/2013/03/22/62975
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The American Academy of Pediatrics declared its support for same-sex marriage (Original Post) Emit Mar 2013 OP
Pope Francis says adoption by gay parents is discrimination against the adopted child Bluenorthwest Mar 2013 #1
 

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)
1. Pope Francis says adoption by gay parents is discrimination against the adopted child
Fri Mar 22, 2013, 10:28 AM
Mar 2013

who'd be better off without parents of any kind. Many here agree with him or feel he should not be criticized as we criticize NOM because he has good costumes.

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