Experts Say Gay Parents are Equal Parents

When the "Defense of Marriage Act" (DOMA) was passed at the federal level in 1996,
it was argued that a heterosexual parent household was the family structure that was best for children.

But medical, social science and child welfare groups have concluded that same-sex parents are equal as parents. Here are just three examples:

1) American Academy of Pediatrics

2) American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

3) Here is an excerpt from a study by the American Psychological Association

"Despite the significant presence of at least 163,879 households headed by lesbian or gay parents in U.S. society, three major concerns about lesbian and gay parents are commonly voiced (Falk, 1994; Patterson, Fulcher & Wainright, 2002). These include concerns that lesbians and gay men are mentally ill, that lesbians are less maternal than heterosexual women, and that lesbians' and gay men's relationships with their sexual partners leave little time for their relationships with their children. In general, research has failed to provide a basis for any of these concerns (Patterson, 2000, 2004a; Perrin, 2002; Tasker, 1999; Tasker & Golombok, 1997)."

The religious right have their own studies, but they also have their own agenda. I doubt they would publish anything that did not fit into their narrow religious world view. Take heed in the advice of real experts who understand how to conduct research and don't have a vested stake in the outcomes.

Divorce Destroys Traditional Marriage

Whatever your definition of traditional marriage, it is clear that divorce brings it to a screeching halt.

John Marcotte and company at Rescuemarriage.org have launched a campaign to end this in California: the 2010 California Marriage Protection Act. It takes Prop 8 one step further ... and right over the edge.

Watch the video that made poster Rush Limbaugh write "Get your tongue out of my cheek!"

Wanted: Tax Credit for Gay Couples!

Okay, that's it. I've joked about it before but now I think this idea should get discussed. Gay and lesbian couples who live together really need a tax credit to compensate them for the high and unjust cost of not being able to get married. Why? They pay their fair share of taxes to fund 1,000+ federal marriage rights and over 300+ state marriage rights (in most states still) for heterosexual couples, and then have to pay extra costs associated with not having those rights themselves.

According to the New York Times, the lifetime cost of being gay is between $41,000 and $468,000, depending on an individual couple's circumstances. Key cost factors include the following:

* The number of children
* Health insurance coverage
* Social Security payments
* Estate or inheritance taxes
* Spousal IRA's
* Pension plans
* Tax preparation fees
* The costs of the extra legal paperwork (to replicate marital rights)

Each year, the gay couple could tally up the expenses they had that they would not have had to pay if they were allowed to legally wed. I'm sure the IRS could create a nice form for it, though it would be on the long side.

Does giving a gay couple a tax credit sound complicated? It is! But there is a simple solution: allows committed gay couples to marry. Plain and simple.

CA's Reverse DOMA: Schwarzenegger Signs Out-of-State Marriage Bill

Following California LGBT marriages is a head-spinning experience. What did this law signed today by Republican Governor Schwarzenegger actually do?

In short, it is like a reverse "Defense of Marriage Act" or DOMA. It says that to the extent it can, California will respect the decisions of other states and nations in regards to LGBT marriages. And I love the title of the bill, which reclaims traditional language in the favor of LGBT people: the Marriage Recognition and Family Protection Act. It is a small but significant victory after the major Prop 8 loss in gay and lesbian Californian's right to use the word "marriage" on top of their already-existing equal state domestic partnership rights.

This bill corrects a problem the prevented already-married gay and lesbian couples from remarrying in CA between June and November 2008. This new Act holds that same-sex couples married before the passage of Proposition 8 must be recognized as married spouses in California, regardless of whether they married in California or in another state or nation. In addition, the new statute also confirms that same-sex couples married outside of California after November 5, 2008, must be given all of the rights, protections and responsibilities of married spouses under California law, with the sole exception of the designation of "marriage."

This Act is about respect. Respect for other states and respect for its own LGBT citizens. Way to go California and Governor Schwarzenegger.

As Geoff Kors of Equality California said, "Ultimately, however, restoring the freedom to marry is the only way to ensure that all Californians receive the dignity and respect that comes with marriage." Read more.

Now let's see the Democrats in Congress reverse their DOMA and start respecting state's marital decisions again.

HRC Dinner Oct 10, 2009

At last something positive from President Obama: "You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men and two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman." I can see that time too, just hope it's in my lifetime.

Nobel Prize Winner Speaks at HRC Dinner

Tomorrow night, President Obama will speak at the HRC National Dinner. So what will the new Nobel Prize winner have to say to issues dear to our nations gays? My guess is not much.


Candidate Obama claimed to be a fierce advocate for LGBT rights, but as President he appears to have back peddled. Hopefully, the HRC leadership will hold his feet to the fire and not participate in the usual adulatory.

And onto the New Jersey right wingnuts!

Just as gay rights advocates in New Jersey started to believe the state is poised to pass legislation legalizing gay marriage...out come the right wing pushing to take the issue to voters. Let's not forget what happened with Prop 8 in California.

NJ already recognizes civil unions for same-sex couples after a Supreme Court decision in 2006 left it up to the Legislature. So the decision to take it further -- or reverse that law -- is still in the hands of Legislature, where lawmakers have introduced a bill that would allow gay couples to marry (S2898), and a measure (SCR-30) that would (yawn...not again) ask voters to amend the constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and woman.

The National Organization for Marriage has already spent at least $1.5 million on advertising against marriage equality in NJ. Pushing prejudice.

Recently, this is what Gov Jon Corzine had to say when asked whether the question of legalizing same-sex marriage is likely to be on the ballot if he is elected to a second term: "Well, I, uh, you know, it probably will not as long as I am governor because I actually believe, uh, that these are the kinds of decisions based on, uh, the, ummm, acceptance of the Supreme Court’s judgment that, uh, marriage equity, umm, is consistent with our principles and our Constitution and I believe we should, uh, follow the Constitution."

Check out Gov. Jon Corzine's got a lame excuse for ducking gay-marriage issue