The ASA has filed an amicus brief to support the fight to overturn Virginia’s gay marriage ban.
\tAn amicus brief was filed with the U.S Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in Washington, D.C on April 16th, 2014. The ASA supports the overturn of Virginia’s gay marriage ban, and continues its 14-month effort to highlight the body of social science research that confirms, “children fare just as well” when raised by same-sex or heterosexual parents. Same-sex marriage opponents misinterpret social science research and claim that it indicates children with gay parents experience worse outcomes than those with heterosexual parents. The 4th Circuit is scheduled to consider the lawsuit challenging the ban in the near future.
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The claim that same-sex parents produce less positive child outcomes than heterosexual parents is contrary to the scientific data, and the ASA will continue to publicize the facts.
\tThe claim that same-sex parents produce less positive child outcomes than heterosexual parents is contrary to the scientific data, and the ASA will continue to publicize the facts.
Research suggests that same-sex marriage may be beneficial for children. “The research supports the conclusion that the extension of marriage rights to same-sex couples has the potential to improve child well-being, insofar as the institution of marriage may provide social and legal support to families and enhance family stability- which are key drivers of positive child outcomes,” says Sally T. Hillsman, ASA Executive Officer.
“Social science research shows, parents’ sexual orientation has no bearing on their children’s well-being. The amicus brief reflects the ASA’s ongoing commitment to ensure that the U.S courts consider lawsuits to legalize gay marriage,” says Hillsman.
Research by Sociologist, Mark Regnerus, from the University of Texas at Austin, is regularly mischaracterized by same-sex marriage opponents. “The Regnerus papers, among others provide no basis for their arguments because the research does not directly examine the well-being of children raised by same-sex parents. These analyses do not undermine the social science research consensus or establish a scientific basis for gay marriage bans,” says Hillsman.
In the past 14 months, the ASA has backed challenges to same-sex marriage bans through amicus briefs 4 times. In March 2014, they filed an amicus brief with the U.S Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit that addressed gay marriage bans in Utah and Oklahoma. In October 2013, they submitted a brief to the U.S Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit regarding same-sex marriage bans in Nevada and Hawaii. Similarly, in February 2013, they weighed in with the U.S Supreme Court on Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California, and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which banned among other things federal recognition of valid same-sex marriage.
“Exhaustive examination of the evidence demonstrates children fare just as well when raised by same-sex parents,” says the ASA amicus brief for the 4th Circuit.
Founded in 1905, the ASA has more than 13,000 members and a long history of presenting the consensus research findings of sociologists to U.S courts for their use of evaluating evidence and legal issues. The ASA’s examination was led by Wendy D. Manning, Professor of Sociology at BGSU, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP of N.Y.C has served as counsel to the ASA on same-sex marriage briefs.
Info: asanet.org