Marriage equality would allow couples of the same sex to have the same legal protections, rights, benefits and responsibilities afforded to heterosexual couples.

RESEARCH

• Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Relationships in the United States: A Social Science Perspective — Gregory M. Herek, Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis (2006). "The data indicate that same-sex and heterosexual relationships do not differ in their essential psychosocial dimensions; that a parent's sexual orientation is unrelated to her or his ability to provide a healthy and nurturing family environment; and that marriage bestows substantial psychological, social and health benefits. It is concluded that same-sex couples and their children are likely to benefit in numrous ways from legal recognition of their families, and providing such recognition through marriage will bestow greater benefit than civil unions or domestic partnerships." Click here for a pdf file of the full report.
• Will Providing Marriage Rights to Same-Sex Couples Undermine Heterosexual Marriage? Evidence from Scandinavia and The Netherlands by M.V. Lee Badgett, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst. "Some on the far right claim that the experiences with same-sex marriage in the international community prove that same-sex marriage destroys the institution of marriage. This claim, however, is unsupported by the facts." Click here for a pdf file of the full article
• 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 and Kertzner (2006) Executive Summary: Click here to download or read the report.
• Federal Estate Tax Disadvantages for Same-Sex Couples, Michael D. Steinberger, Williams Institute, November 2009. This report, issued by the Williams Institute, addresses the federal estate tax disadvantages of same-sex couples. Michael D. Steinberger is a Public Policy Fellow at the Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, and an Assistant Professor of Economics at Pomona College. He is a labor economist who studies wage and labor supply differences related to sexual orientation. Using data from several government data sources, this report estimates the dollar value of the estate tax disadvantage faced by same-sex couples. For more information, click here.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION POSITION STATEMENTS

• American Psychological Association — Sexual Orientation and Marriage (July 2004)
  
  "THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the APA believes that it is unfair and discriminatory to deny same-sex couples legal access to civil marriage and to all its attendant benefits, rights and privileges, THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that APA shall take a leadership role in opposing all discrimination in legal benefits, rights and privileges against same-sex couples; THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that APA encourages psychologists to aid to eliminate all discrimination against same-sex couples in their practice, research, education and training (American Psychological Association, 2002); THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the APA shall provide scientific and educational resources that inform public discussion and public policy development regarding sexual orientation and marriage and that assist its members, divisions and affiliated state, provincial and territorial psychological associations." NOTE: This web page contains a significant number of references cited: www.apa.org/about/governance/council/policy/marriage.aspx
• American Psychiatric Association — Position Statement on Support of Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Civil Marriage (July 2005)
  
  "In the interest of maintaining and promoting mental health, the American Psychiatric Association supports the legal recognition of same-sex civil marriage with all rights, benefits and responsibilities conferred by civil marriage, and opposes restrictions to those same rights, benefits and responsibilities. Full text: www.psych.org/Departments/EDU/Library/APAOfficialDocumentsandRelated/PositionStatements/200502.aspx
• National Association of Social Workers — Same-Sex Marriage Position Statement, June 2004:
  
  "NASW encourages the adoption of laws that recognize inheritance, insurance, same-sex marriage, child custody, property and other rights in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender relationships. The Association firmly believes that all federal protections and responsibilities available to legally married people in the United States should be available to people who enter same-sex unions (including domestic partnerships, civil unions and same-sex marriages). Full text: www.socialworkers.org/diversity/lgb/062804.asp?print=1

LEGAL REFERENCES

• Brief filed in California marriage case by American Psychological Association, California Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, National Association of Social Workers and its California Chapter. This is a superb summary of the current research relating to LGBT relationships and parenting. Highly recommended. Click here to read or download a pdf.