About Time! American Academy of Pediatrics Supports Same-Sex Marriage

On March 20th, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) declared their support of same-sex marriage. In a policy paper entitled Promoting the Well-Being of Children Whose Parents are Gay or Lesbian, the AAP stated:

"To promote optimal health and well-being of all children, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports access for all children to (1) civil marriage rights for their parents and (2) willing and capable foster and adoptive parents, regardless of the parents’ sexual orientation. The AAP has always been an advocate for, and has developed policies to support, the optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being of all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. In so doing, the AAP has supported families in all their diversity, because the family has always been the basic social unit in which children develop the supporting and nurturing relationships with adults that they need to thrive."

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"If a child has 2 living and capable parents who choose to create a permanent bond by way of civil marriage, it is in the best interests of their child(ren) that legal and social institutions allow and support them to do so, irrespective of their sexual orientation."

The New York Times reports that:  

"The academy’s new policy statement says same-sex marriage helps guarantee rights, benefits and long-term security for children, while acknowledging that it does not now ensure access to federal benefits. When marriage is not an option, the academy said, children should not be deprived of foster care or adoption by single parents or couples, whatever their sexual orientation."

Evidence has shown that children raised by same-sex couples do just as well as children from heterosexual couples. Children need homes. Place children in a loving home and they prosper. Though this a no-brainer, it is nice to have such a respected organization like the AAP support same-sex marriage.