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On Thursday, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the most influential U.S. pediatrician's group, endorsed gay marriage, saying a stable relationship between parents regardless of sexual orientation contributes to a child's health and well-being. (AP Photo)

American Academy of Pediatrics backs gay marriage

BY Stephanie Klein  on March 21, 2013 @ 11:10 am (Updated: 12:08 pm - 3/21/13 )

The nation's most influential pediatrician's group says gays should be allowed to marry to help ensure the health and well-being of their children.

The American Academy of Pediatrics' new policy, published online Thursday, cites research showing that the parents' sexual orientation has no effect on a child's development. Kids fare just as well in gay or straight families when they are nurturing and financially and emotionally stable, the academy says.

KIRO Radio's Dave Ross said, sarcastically, this new study will surely change the minds of all doubters.

Co-host Luke Burbank referenced a study that was released earlier this week: ABC News - Washington Post found 81 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 29 now support gay marriage. Fifty-eight percent of Americans support gay marriage.

"That is a tidal wave," Burbank said. "That's something that is very, very hard to argue is going to change or go away in the coming years."

Ross believes these studies are all coming out because the Supreme Court is getting ready to issue its decision on the Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8 case.

"We wanted that policy statement available for the justices to review," said Dr. Thomas McInerney, the academy's president and a pediatrician in Rochester, N.Y.

The pediatricians' gay marriage stance is not surprising. They previously joined other national groups including the American Medical Association in supporting one of the Supreme Court cases, which contends the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. The academy also previously supported adoption by gay parents.

Dr. Ben Siegel, a Boston pediatrician and chairman of the committee that developed the new policy, said its focus is on "nurturing children. We want what's best for children."

The academy believes that a two-parent marriage is best equipped to provide that kind of environment. Their policy says that if a child has two gay parents who choose to marry, "it is in the best interests of their children that legal and social institutions allow and support them to do so."

The policy cites reports indicating that almost 2 million U.S. children are being raised by gay parents, many of them in states that don't allow gays to marry.

The academy has a history of taking a stand on politically touchy issues. It has discouraged families with children from having guns in their homes and urged pediatricians to give teens advance prescriptions for emergency birth control.

Burbank is optimistic about the academy's announcement and the latest studies that indicate a change in the country's attitude toward same sex couples.

He's convinced that simply knowing or becoming friends with someone who is gay can drastically change one's opinion.

"I do really think that a lot of the people who are dead set against what I consider to be equal rights for gay Americans, their lives, for whatever reason, are constructed in such a way or have evolved into such a thing that they don't really meet a lot of people who are gay," Burbank said.

"Knowing someone who's gay makes it really hard to assume that gay people are somehow abhorrent," said Luke, using his prejudice of Mercer Island residents, until he met Dave, as an example of life-changing events.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Stephanie Klein, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Stephanie joined the MyNorthwest.com team in February 2008. She has built the site into a two-time National Edward R. Murrow Award winner (Best Radio Website 2010, 2012).
More Luke Burbank

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Comments (57)


  • Add A Comment

  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Too bad.
    March 21, 2013 10:59 am
    Most Americans DO NOT!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    Cite your source.
    March 21, 2013 11:03 am
    And not just the other red necks you hang out with.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zoeller wrote...
    "this new study will surely change the minds of all doubters."
    March 21, 2013 11:01 am
    This is one the most ignorant statements Dave has made and he makes a lot of them. Maybe some kind of wishful thinking on his part?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    Dave in Cuba Libre
    March 21, 2013 11:51 am
    he was the one wearing the Carmen Miranda fruit hat and hot pants.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • po_guy wrote...
    And I quote the most liberal gay lover in USA:
    March 21, 2013 11:02 am
    "KIRO Radio's Dave Ross said this new study will surely change the minds of all doubters." LOL!!! What a dummy!!! Dave, you must be a closet queer...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • kpmccdog wrote...
    Zoeller and po_guy
    March 21, 2013 11:48 am
    You are the Dummies the article clearly states he said it SARCASTICLY!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Stevebo wrote...
    I would agree... times are changing (and in a good way in my opinion).
    March 21, 2013 11:02 am
    The studies are very clear that a child raised in a gay home has no more chance of being "gay" themselves than a child raised in a "straight" home (this has historically been one of the common arguments coming from those that oppose).

    Studies also show that a two-parent household tends to have a stronger benefit to a child - so it makes perfect sense that a household with a married gay couple would be equally potentially supportive of a child.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Cite your source.
    March 21, 2013 11:15 am
    Go look it up for yourself Fat Flounder and get back to me ASAP!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    A little touchy today aren't we?
    March 21, 2013 12:05 pm
    Life must me rough at the fire house.

    BTW: here's a link

    http://www.gallup.com/poll/147662/first-time-majority-americans-favor-legal-gay-marriage.aspx

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bofus wrote...
    Lord Ha Ha
    March 21, 2013 12:44 pm
    gets a little worked up when he slides up and down the pole.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Alex Mason wrote...
    MyGayNorthwest
    March 21, 2013 11:23 am
    Front page news, in your face or down your throat.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    I try to take my daily dose of progressive gay propaganda like a man
    March 21, 2013 11:27 am
    hold my nose and chase it with tequila. But I couldn't get past the first sentence today. I can feel that the poles have shifted another 5 degrees as Mother Nature once again is beaten senseless by her abusive husbands, Steve and Steve after they have been out all night at a gay bar.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • juel wrote...
    A few years ago
    March 21, 2013 11:34 am
    I would not have ever thought I would agree. As time goes on, I have come to know more gay people and to accept that they for on reason or another are attracted to their own sex. Many are wonderful parents and should be allowed to raise children. I don't know of any who have gay children.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    So how will the child, adopted by a Homosexual couple,
    March 21, 2013 11:42 am
    be able to explain to other children why they have 2 fathers and not a father and mother like everyone else? How will it be explained?

    Oh! Wait. That line of childhood questions would be considered Bullying by the state and the parents of those children would be threatened by agents of the state and the regime. How many children are programmed by state regime indoctrination centers to not ask questions of them?

    Don't laugh Parrots. It is coming if not already here!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • WiIliam Lawn wrote...
    Come on Ha Ha
    March 21, 2013 12:13 pm
    Public schools are nothing more then indoctrination centers. It's definitely already here. If a child eats a pop tart into the shape of a gun, he is expelled. Why? Because it's liberal indoctrination at work. The young generation now, once they become adults won't know any other way then the progressive way. Redefining the 1st Amendment to their ideology only. Eliminating the 2nd. Pretend 'gay' marriage. It's all part of the scheme. A generation of non self thinkers, obedience to government without question. That liberal minded entitlement generation, once they become adults, will be the greatest threat this nation will face. If we even last that long at all.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...
    @It's me: 1) why do you care? 2) why do you assume kids think the way adults do?
    March 21, 2013 12:37 pm
    They aren't your kids having to answer questions so why are you pretending to care about them having to answer? That should be filed under NOYB.

    As for questions:

    Why is your mom so fat?

    Why is your skin brown?

    Why do you have to bring your car seat to class?

    Why do you smell like curry?

    Why do yu have two moms, and BTW why are you brown and they are white?

    Kids have questions, and given honest answers, nearly invariably they respond, "Oh" and go about their business, it's the adults that are putting the spin on the reality. The kids are doing just fine. So, you should be worring about yourself, not them.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    What's a doubter?...and what thoughts need changing?
    March 21, 2013 11:49 am
    Is a doubter someone who doubts that two animals of the same sex can procreate offspring without using a third party of the opposite sex? So where does this third party fit into the "gay" marriage? I thought all you progressive lemmings believed in science.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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