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(Washington) The nation's largest pediatricians
group said Wednesday that children would benefit from the legalization of
same-sex marriage.
In a 16-page report the American
Academy of Pediatrics found that children of same-sex parents do better in areas
of the country which recognize their parents' relationships.
"Children of same-gender
parents often experience economic, legal, and familial insecurity as a result of
the absence of legal recognition of their bonds to nonbiological parents"
and that "legal recognition of a [same-gender] spouse can increase the
ability of adult couples to provide and care for one another and fosters a
nurturing and secure environment for their children," the report said.
Titled "The Effects of
Marriage, Civil Union and Domestic Partnership Laws on the Health and Well-Being
of Children" the report was commissioned by the American Academy of
Pediatrics Board of Directors.
"As children, many gay and
lesbian persons experience considerable isolation, peer rejection, ridicule,
harassment, and/or depression at some time," the report noted. "At
least 47% of gay and lesbian teens have seriously considered suicide, and 36%
have actually attempted suicide.23 They may experience rejection by their
families, homelessness, maltreatment in school, and violence. As adults, gay and
lesbian people continue to experience social marginalization, discrimination,
and hate-crime violence.
"Nationwide political and
religious debate over samegender marriage has intensified an already unstable
climate for gay men and lesbians in our society. The lack of societal tolerance,
acceptance, and support that gay and lesbian individuals, couples, and their
children experience can and does affect their psychosocial and physical health
and safety."
The report was published Wednesday
in the July of the AAP journal Pediatrics.
With 55,000 members, the AAP is the
largest and most influential professional organization for pediatricians in the
United States.
"The nation's largest
organization for pediatricians knows what it's talking about: marriage is good
for all families," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.
"The Academy's report is based
on solid research showing that sexual orientation makes no difference when it
comes to parenting and they aren't alone in that finding. Every single credible
child welfare organization has said that sexual orientation has nothing to do
with the ability to be a good parent. It's having a loving home that
matters."
The report also was hailed by gays
in the medical profession.
"This report confirms what all
parents know: that it’s love that makes a family," said Gay and Lesbian
Medical Association Executive Director, Joel Ginsberg.
"State and federal legislators
who say they’re trying to ‘protect’ children by sponsoring constitutional
amendments to ban same-sex marriage are not just wrong, they are actively
harming the health and well-being of all our children."
©365Gay.com 2006
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