“[T]he evidence is clear that children who grow up in a family with a mother and a father do better in all parameters than children without.” That’s according to the Doctors for the Family’s submission to the Senate Inquiry into Marriage Equality. And it’s rightly generated a lot of criticism over the past few days.
It’s unfortunate that a group of 150 doctors, which doesn’t represent the academic consensus on the issue, has been given such a high profile. The Conversation’s medical blogger, Michael Vagg, has already critiqued the sources of the group’s so-called “evidence”. But what does the research really show?
If you’re interested in being part of the Australian Study of Child Health in Same-Sex Families, please email Dr Crouch at admin@achess.org.au or visit study’s website. The study is part of the Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program at the McCaughey VicHealth Centre in the Melbourne School of Population Health.
Related news & commentary:
Arnold: ‘Doctors for the Family’ see some Australians as more equal than others
Media release: Advocates encouraged by Hockey’s admission on same-sex parenting
Same-sex families hit back at doctors’ claims
Headspace blog: Doctors breaching their duty of care
3AW: Risk gay marriage would ‘increase homosexuality’, say Doctors for the Family
Factbox: Who are Doctors for the Family? (ABC News)
Victoria: Equal opportunity commissioner opposes same-sex marriage
Vagg: Ersatz science does not help inform debate about social policy
Castan Centre: ‘Doctors for the Family’ ill-informed on same-sex marriage
Rodney Croome: Love makes a family
Gay unions a ‘risk to kids’, say Doctors for the Family