Medical Association Backs Same-Sex Marriage, Adoption
Apr 27, 2013
Zephyrhills, FL (Law Firm Newswire) April 26, 2013 – A pediatricians’ association has come out in favor of same-sex marriage and adoption rights.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently released a statement in the journal “Pediatrics” calling for same-sex couples to have the legal right to marry. The statement also backed adoption by those couples, a practice largely – but not universally – legal in the United States.
“Same-sex marriage is the subject of a lot of legal wrangling, and adoption can be difficult for some of these couples as well,” Zephyrhills divorce attorney Marcie Baker commented. “Supporters will surely see the AAP’s statement as a timely boost to their cause.”
The policy statement, approved unanimously by AAP’s board of directors, said that marriage benefits the health and well-being of gay and lesbian couples and their families. It also said the well-being of adoptive children is affected far less by their parents’ sexual orientation than by their economic security and health.
Dr. Benjamin Siegel led the AAP committee that studied the issue. Siegel said that a child is better off with two parents than one, and “economic and social security and stability” are the key factors for healthy development.
Florida had in place a statute preventing same-sex adoption since 1977. That law, however, was struck down in 2010. That year, the Third District Court of Appeal upheld a 2008 ruling in Miami-Dade County finding no rational basis for the law. The state declined to appeal the decision to the Florida Supreme Court and halted the enforcement of the ban.
Many state laws on same-sex couples are vague and are interpreted on a case-by-case basis by judges. Only Mississippi currently has a state law that specifically bans adoption by same-sex couples.
The U.S. Supreme Court is taking up two major cases involving gay rights. The first concerns California’s law prohibiting same-sex marriage, and the second involves federal benefits for same-sex couples.
“Adoption even by opposite-sex couples can be a complex process,” added Ms. Baker. “Prospective adopters should be sure to speak with an experienced family law attorney.”
Marcie Baker is a partner in the firm of Alston & Baker, P. A. To contact a Zephyrhills Social Security lawyer, Zephyrhills accident attorney, or Zephyrhills divorce lawyer, visit http://www.alstonbakerlaw.com.
Alston & Baker, P.A.
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Zephyrhills, Florida 33542
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Alston & Baker, an Affiliation of Professional Associations:
The Law Office of Robert C.Alston, Esq., P.A. and
The Law Office of Marcie L. Baker, Esq., P.A.
