American Sociological Association Files Brief in Bostic v. Rainey

4th Circuit Court of Appeals

One of the constant mantras one hears from the extreme Christofascists at The Family Foundation - an affiliate of the hate group Family Research Council("TFF")  - is that "ever child deserves a mother and father" and the claim that children raised by same sex parents do not thrive and succeed as fell as those with heterosexual parents.  These claims are backed by nothing other than TFF's virulent anti-gay animus and its desire to force all Virginians to live in accordance with TFF's extreme religious beliefs.  TFF is in short the Christian version of the Taliban.  The legitimate research shows that children do just as well in same sex parent headed homes.  This is the point that the American Sociological Association ("ASA") drives home in its amicus brief filed in Bostic v. Rainey now pending before the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.  LGBT Weekly has details on the ASA brief:

The American Sociological Association (ASA) filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit today supporting the fight to overturn Virginia’s gay marriage ban and continuing its now 14-month effort to highlight the overwhelming body of social science research that confirms “children fare just as well” when raised by same-sex or heterosexual parents. The Fourth Circuit is scheduled to consider the lawsuit challenging the ban in the near future.

“The amicus brief reflects the ASA’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that U.S. courts considering lawsuits to legalize gay marriage know that social science research shows parents’ sexual orientation has no bearing on their children’s well-being,” said ASA Executive Officer Sally T. Hillsman. “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”

This is the fourth time in the past 14 months that the ASA has backed challenges to same-sex marriage bans through amicus briefs. In March 2014, the ASA 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, the ASA submitted a brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit regarding same-sex marriage bans in Nevada and Hawaii. Similarly, in February 2013, the ASA 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 marriages.

“For as long as is necessary, we will continue to provide the courts with the clear social science research consensus that children raised by same-sex parents fare just as well as children raised by heterosexual parents,” Hillsman said. “We will also continue to correct the record when gay marriage opponents misinterpret or misrepresent social science research to support their position, which unfortunately happens all too frequently.”

“The Regnerus papers, among other sources gay marriage opponents continue to invoke, provide no basis for their arguments because that research does not directly examine the well-being of children raised by same-sex parents,” Hillsman said. “These analyses, therefore, do not undermine the social science research consensus and do not establish a scientific basis for gay marriage bans.”

Rather, social science research suggests same-sex marriage may be beneficial for children. “I have said this before, but it bears repeating: 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 — all of which are key drivers of positive child outcomes,” Hillsman said.

Note how the ASA again slams the dishonest and fraudulent Regnerus study that was funded by right wing organizations and which increasing appears to have had a predetermined outcome.   No one is more dishonest than the "godly folk."