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July 07, 2006

Study says same-sex-marriage bans harm children

A new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics is confirming what same-sex marriage advocates have been saying for years—that marriage equality can only help the children of gay parents. The academy studied all three variations on state-recognized same-sex unions and found that "simply put, same-gender civil marriage harms no one, whereas prohibiting civil marriage for gays and lesbians harms these couples and their children."

Gay-rights advocates say that while the study probably won't silence the harshest critics of same-sex marriage, it will still make a big difference. "I think that opponents of marriage will continue to cite bogus studies and unreliable experts, but I think what this report can do is speak to people who have an open mind, and people who are in a position to make a decision about legislation or cases," Carisa Cunningham, spokeswoman for the Massachusetts group Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, said.

In particular, Cunningham cited the case of seven Connecticut couples who are suing for the right to marry, in which the conservative Family Institute of Connecticut intervened in order to present evidence of how same-sex marriage harms children. She said this study could dent the institute's credibility.

The study appears in the July edition of the Academy's journal Pediatrics. (Sirius OutQ News)

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