Michigan Project for Informed Public Policy - MPIPP

MARRIAGE EQUALITY

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 numerous ways from legal recognition of their families, and providing such recognition through marriage will bestow greater benefit than civil unions or domestic partnerships." full text: http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/AP_06_pre.PDF

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, Dept. 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." http://nsrc.sfsu.edu/article/marriage_rights_same_sex_couples_undermine_heterosexual_marriage_evidence

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: http://www.aclu.org/getequal/ffm/section78/8c6dobutcant.pdf

Anti Gay Marriage Arguments are Resurrecting Old Prejudices -- The Common Sense Foundation (2005) "The language used to promote this amendment and oppose same-sex marriage rights is similar to the rhetoric that has been used throughout the history of the United States to justify withholding the rights of some to marry. In the late 1800's, miscegenation laws were reinstated and expanded after Reconstruction. The justifications used by judges and policymakers then are being echoed today by same-sex marriage opponents." http://www.common-sense.org/pdfs/css_v8_i01.pdf

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 webpage contains a significant number of references cited: http:://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: http://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: http://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. http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/highprofile/documents/Amer_Psychological_Assn_Amicus_Curiae_Brief.pdf