The Herald Sun has reported (13 May 2012) that 22 Victorian doctors have come out in opposition to same-sex marriage on the basis that “the evidence is clear that children who grow up in a family with a mother and father do better in all parameters than children without”. The clear inference is that there is medical research supporting their position that same-sex marriage is harmful to children. Such a position is not based on any credible research. Indeed, recent research reveals the exact opposite to be true.

For example, the highly regarded National Lesbian Longitudinal Family Study has found that

“adolescents living with lesbian parents function as well as, or sometimes better than, those reared by opposite-sex parents”

( Loes van Gelderen, Henny M. W. Bos, Nanette Gartrell, Jo Hermanns and Ellen C. Perrin ‘Quality of Life of Adolescents Raised from Birth by Lesbian Mothers: The US National Longitudinal Family Study’(2012) 33(1) Journal of of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics 1-7

The American Psychological Association has come out in support of same-sex marriage because it has read the empirical research that demonstrates the clear health benefits that flow from allowing same sex couples to marry, including Herdt, G. & Kertzner, R. (2006). ‘I do, but I can’t: The impact of marriage denial on the mental health and sexual citizenship of lesbians and gay men in the United States’ (2006) 3(1) Sexuality Research and Social Policy 33-49.

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Related commentary:
Sear: Herald Sun falsely implies that “doctors” think gay marriage “a risk to kids”

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