Leading mental health
and human services organizations came out for marriage
equality in Vermont on Monday, citing professional
studies that show legalizing gay marriage helps the children of
same-sex couples.
"We felt it was
important for us to set the record straight about the scholarly
literature in our field, and we have lots of different families
and the best thing to do for all children is to support parents
the best way we can," Jackie Weinstein of the University
of Vermont's Human Development and Families Studies program
told
WCAX-TV
in Burlington.
A same-sex marriage
bill is currently under consideration in the Vermont
legislature. The bill was introduced in February and has
garnered 59 sponsors -- all Democrats -- in the house. In 2000,
Vermont became the first state to pass civil unions
legislation.
The mental health and
human services organizations will testify in support of
same-sex marriage next week, when the senate judiciary
committee holds a week of hearings and testimony on the
bill.
Members of the group
include the Vermont Psychological Association, the Vermont
Psychiatric Association, the Vermont Association of Mental
Health Counselors, and the Vermont chapter of the National
Association of Social Workers.