Marriage Equality, Gay and Lesbian Parenting

The supreme court ruled same sex marriage a right nationwide June 26, 2015!

(http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/27/us/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage.html?_r=0)

First read "Perspectives on Same Sex Marriage" pages 194-198 in your 2nd ed textbook or 198-200 in your 3rd edition textbook. Should the US support marriage equality? Why or why not? What does the research say about the implications of gay marriage and gay parenting as compared to the implications of heterosexual marriage and heterosexual parenting? Consider the difference between personal views, laws, and human rights. A film I highly recommend: “In the Family” by Patrick Wang. After reading the information below, follow links to read/watch additional resources.

From Pro/Con.Org http://gaymarriage.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004857:

Historical Information:

Gay marriage 35 states legal 15 states banned
Gay Marriage Arguments Divide Supreme CourtHelpful timeline and interesting info: http://gaymarriage.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004857

Changing Views of Gay Marriage: Great graphics
Legal and Psychological Benefits of Marriage
All of the Following is a Direct Quote from the Marriage Equality Website (http://www.marriageequality.org/why-marriage)

Practical

Marriage offers 1,138 Federal benefits and responsibilities, not including hundreds more offered by every state.
- In times of crisis, spouses have hospital visitation rights and can make medical decisions in event of illness or disability of their spouse.
- Employers offer spouses sick leave, bereavement leave, access to health insurance and pension
- The law provides certain automatic rights to a person's spouse regardless of whether or not a will exists.
- Married couples in elderly care facilities are generally not separated unless one spouse's health dictates hospitalization or special care.
- The dissolution of a marriage requires a determination of property distribution, award of child custody and support and spousal support. Absent divorce, there is no uniform system for sorting out the ending of a relationship. (http://www.marriageequality.org/why-marriage)
Finances

Financial issues are complex and challenging, no matter the couple. When home ownership, kids and other assets are a part of the equation, planning for the present and especially the future is even more critical for greater security.
- Married couples are permitted to give an unlimited amount of gifts to each other without being taxed.
- The law presumes that a married couple with both names on the title to their home owns the property as "tenants by the entirety."
- A married couple, by statute, has creditor protection of their marital home.
- Many married people are entitled to financial benefits relating to their spouses, such as disability, pension and social security benefits.
- With marriage, a couple has the right to be treated as an economic unit and to file joint tax returns (and pay the marriage penalty), and obtain joint health, home and auto insurance policies.
- When a spouse dies, there is no need to prove ownership of every item in the household for taxable purposes. (http://www.marriageequality.org/why-marriage)
Protecting Children
- A child who grows up with married parents benefits from the fact that his or her parents' relationship is recognized by law and receives legal protections.
- Spouses are generally entitled to joint child custody and visitation upon divorce (and bear an obligation to pay child support).
- The mark of a strong family and healthy children is having parents who are nurturing, caring, and loving. Parents should be judged on their ability to parent, not by their age, race, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. (http://www.marriageequality.org/why-marriage)
Healthy Advantage

Studies show that people who are married tend to live longer and lead healthier lives.
- For adults, a stable, happy marriage is the best protector against illness and premature death. Decades of research have clearly established these links. (Burman & Margolin, 1992; Dawson, 1991; Verbrugge, 1979).
- Studies on marriages have found that married people live longer, have higher incomes and wealth, engage less in risky behaviors, eat more healthily, and have fewer psychological problems than unmarried people. (Waite, Linda J. "Why Marriage Matters." Strengthening Marriage Roundtable. Washington, DC, June 1997)
- Research shows that unmarried couples have lower levels of happiness and well-being than married couples. (Popenoe, David and Dafoe Whitehead, Barbara, USA Today, July, 2000) A recent study shows that denying same-sex couples the right to marry has a negative impact on their mental health.
- 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 (Herdt, G. & Kertzner, R. 2006).
- (http://www.marriageequality.org/why-marriage)

Daily Show 4/29: Supreme Court regarding Marriage Equality
Graphic of changes in laws re: same sex marriage
Great graphic that shows how laws have changed over time re: same sex marriage
http://issuu.com/wescom/docs/gaymarriagegraphic/1?e=1355006/5276884
Same Sex Marriage Recognized in Oregon
California bans gay cure therapy for children

"In the Family" Film

How the War on Gay Marriage Turned Into a War on Adoption March 2013

http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/news/a21153/war-on-adoption/Father offers huge dowry to man who will marry his lesbian daughter HRC Graphics and Info Re: Marriage EqualityNY Court Rules DOMA unconstitutional Marriage Equality Website

American Family Association website

Marriage Equality Quotes

Same Sex Marriage- Bend Bulletin

Effects of Same Sex Parenting
No evidence children of Gay parents are negatively impacted

Family Research Council: Why Marriage Matters

5 LGBT Issues More Important than Gay Marriage 2/15: http://bluenationreview.com/5-lgbt-issues-important-sex-marriage/

Same-sex marriage passes in two states

Critique of negative outcome Gay Parent study

Gay Parent Adoptive Parents

A personal story of love and societal restrictions

An "It Gets Better" message from Shane

Public Health Implications of Same Sex Marriages

Social science struggles for effects of same sex parenting on children

Lesbian and Gay Parenting

Gay Marriage: Foamy the Squirrel May 2012: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KLMYaF_Xa8

Hetero-normative assumptions of gay parenting

APA Info
American Psychological Association Information
APA Fact Sheet
:

Sexual Orientation and Youth- APA
Why Gay Parents May Be the Best Parents
Good Enough to Parent, but not Marry

Hillary Clinton for HRC

short ad for marriage equality
Kids react to gay marriage

PBS: Frontline: Assault on Gay America
Gay gene debate
How do genes influence sexuality?

Homosexuality linked to Progesterone, bonding

Study suggests homosexuality may be linked to bonding.
social science struggles for data on the effects of same sex parenting

Heterosexual privilege: http://itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2012/01/29-examples-of-heterosexual-privilege/

Here is a clip from a great film ("In the Family" by Patrick Wang) that gives us a window into one family with two loving fathers.