Comment & Debate
“Case No. S147999 in the Supreme Court of the State of California, In re Marriage Cases Judicial Council Coordination Proceeding No. 4365, Application for leave to file brief amici curiae in support of the parties challenging the marriage exclusion, and brief amici curiae of the American Psychological Association, California Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, National Association of Social Workers, and National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter in support of the parties challenging the marriage exclusion”: “Allowing same-sex couples to legally marry will not have any detrimental effect on children raised in heterosexual households, but it will benefit children being raised by same-sex couples.”
“The Effects of Marriage, Civil Union, and Domestic Partnership Laws on the Health and Well-being of Children” Pediatrics. 2006: “Conscientious and nurturing adults, whether they are men or women, heterosexual or homosexual, can be excellent parents. The rights, benefits, and protections of civil marriage can further strengthen these families.”
Marriage of Same-Sex Couples – 2006 Position Statement Canadian Psychological Association: “Opposition to marriage of same-sex couples
often incorrectly pre-supposes that, by preventing marriage of same-sex couples, no children will
be born or raised within families where parents are of the same sex. Such as argument ignores
the reality that children are, and will continue to be, born to and raised by parents who are married, those who are unmarried, those who are cohabitating, and those who are single – most of whom
will be heterosexual, some of whom will be gay, and some of whom will be lesbian. Further, the
literature (including the literature on which opponents to marriage of same-sex couples appear to
rely) indicates that parents’ financial, psychological and physical well-being is enhanced by
marriage and that children benefit from being raised by two parents within a legally-recognized
union. As the CPA stated in 2003, the stressors encountered by gay and lesbian parents and their
children are more likely the result of the way in which society treats them than because of any
deficiencies in fitness to parent.”