Resolution
Whereas APA supports policy and legislation that promote safe, secure, and nurturing environments for all children (DeLeon, 1993, Fox, 1991; Levant, 2000);
Whereas APA has a long-established policy to deplore “all public and private discrimination against sexual and gender minorities” and urges “the repeal of all discriminatory legislation against sexual and gender minorities” (American Psychological Association, 2005; Conger, 1975);
Whereas the APA adopted the Resolution on Child Custody and Placement in 1976 (Conger, 1977, p. 432), and the Resolution on Sexual Orientation, Parents, and Children in 2004 (Paige, 2005);
Whereas discrimination against sexual and gender minority parents deprives their children of benefits, rights, and privileges enjoyed by children of cisgender, heterosexual married couples;
Whereas the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all state bans on same-sex marriage, legalized it in all 50 states, and required states to honor out-of-state marriage licenses between same-sex couples in 2015 ( Obergefell v. Hodges );
Whereas court rulings ( Obergefell v. Hodges , 2015) have made access to joint adoption by same-sex married couples legal in all 50 states (Farr & Goldberg, 2018);
Whereas there is no scientific evidence that parenting ineffectiveness is related to parental sexual orientation or gender identity: sexual and gender minority parents are as likely as cisgender heterosexual parents to provide supportive and healthy environments for their children (Dierckx st al., 2017; Fedewa, et al., 2015; Freedman et al., 2002; Goldberg & Sweeney, 2019; Green, 1978; Lamb, 2012; Moore & Stambolis-Ruhstorfer, 2013; Patterson, 2017; Stotzer et al., 2014; Veldorale-Griffin, 2014);
Whereas no research has indicated that the adjustment, development, and psychological well-being of children is related to parental sexual orientation or gender identity/expression and that the children of sexual and gender minority parents are as likely as those of cisgender heterosexual parents to flourish (Bos et al., 2018; Dierckx et al., 2017; Farr, 2017; Farr & Patterson, 2013; Goldberg & Smith, 2013; Golombok et al., 2014; Lavner et al., 2014; White & Ettner, 2004); and
Whereas current demographic evidence suggests that a majority of sexual and gender minority parents are likely to be people of color (Gates, 2012, 2013), and their experiences may involve greater social, systemic, cultural, and structural challenges (Battle & Ashley, 2008; Cahill et al., 2003; Haines et al., 2014; Moore & Brainer, 2013);
Therefore be it resolved that the APA opposes any discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity/expression in matters of adoption, child custody and visitation, foster care, reproductive health services, and schooling;
Be it further resolved that the APA believes that children benefit from legal ties to each parent regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression;
Be it further resolved that the APA supports the protection of parent-child relationships regardless of the parent's sexual orientation or gender identity/expression through the legalization of joint adoptions and second-parent adoptions of children;
Be it further resolved that APA shall take a leadership role in opposing all discrimination based on a parent's sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression in matters of adoption, child custody and visitation, foster care, reproductive health services, and schooling;
Be it further resolved that APA encourages psychologists to act to eliminate all discrimination of the parent based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression in matters of adoption, child custody and visitation, foster care, reproductive health services, and schooling in their practice, research, education and training (American Psychological Association, 2016);
Be it further resolved that the APA shall provide scientific and educational resources that inform public discussion and public policy development regarding discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression in matters of adoption, child custody and visitation, foster care, reproductive health services, and schooling and that assist its members, divisions, and affiliated state, provincial, and territorial psychological associations in protecting the rights of sexual and gender minorities;
Be it further resolved that APA encourages psychologists to consider other dimensions of identity that intersect and compound the challenges of sexual and gender minority parents and their children, such as race, class, ability, and immigration status, in all other matters established above such as treatment, prevention and advocacy.
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