By John G.
I don't want to harp on Mary Cheney's pregnancy, even though it has caused quite the stir in both the gay and anti-gay press. However, I got an email from Soulforce today that I want to spread around. Accurate representation in the press is remarkably important for queers everywhere, as outlets like Time do so much to shape the national dialogue on social issues.
From www.soulforce.org:
In the December 18th issue of TIME Magazine, James Dobson responds to the news of Mary Cheney's pregnancy by once again invoking "30 years of social-science evidence" to support his claim that children do best "when raised by their married mother and father."
In spite of Dobson's reputation as a benevolent family therapist, his views on lesbian and gay parenting do not reflect the mainstream of American professional organizations concerned with researching and promoting children's wellbeing. In a 2004 policy statement, the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy reported "no evidence that same-sex couples or family units vary significantly from heterosexual couples or family units in terms of aspirations, hopes and goals, or in outcomes for children."
In response to Dobson's editorial, Soulforce contacted Dr. Christopher R. Martell, President of the American Psychological Association's Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Issues. According to Dr. Martell:
Over and again the data show that a loving and safe home environment is important, not the gender of the parents. The mainstream research is so clear on this matter that the American Psychological Association's resolution on Sexual Orientation, Parents, and Children, which was adopted by the APA Council of Representatives in July, 2004, states: "the APA supports the protection of parent-child relationships through the legalization of joint adoptions and second parent adoptions of children being reared by same-sex couples."
The American Psychological Association, one of the world's largest mental health organizations, would not have supported the protection of legalized adoption by gay and lesbian parents if the data had suggested that children were at risk in such households.
Soulforce recognizes Time's history of excellent coverage of LGBT issues. We ask the editors to continue this tradition by checking Dobson's facts on lesbian and gay parenthood.
You can read Dobson's article in Time titled "Two Mommies Is One Too Many" by clicking here.
Want to sign Soulforce's petition? Click here.
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