Same-Sex Marriage

I am writing in response to the September 16 column of APA President Steven Sharfstein, M.D., titled “Psychiatric and Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Civil Marriage.”

Dr. Sharfstein's comments reflect the muddle-headed thinking that makes psychiatrists the butt of jokes in the community. His argument for APA's taking a stand on this issue “is based fundamentally on the research evidence.” However, saying that homosexuality has strong links to biology and genetics is meaningless—so does Down's syndrome, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Saying that same-sex marriage is associated with clear benefits is irrelevant—premarital sex and divorce clearly have deleterious effects on adults and their children, yet APA has not taken a stand supporting abstinence and the sanctity of marriage. APA already endorsed the concept of same-sex civil unions in 2000; I don't believe that research has been done to demonstrate that same-sex marriages are even more beneficial than same-sex civil unions, and should therefore be recognized.

The reasons for recognizing same sex marriage are based on social and political beliefs, not scientific data. It does APA no good for its president to be disingenuous in this regard. Claiming that APA's position is based on scientific research only makes it easier for the community at large to question the science that has gone into developments in understanding of the human brain and mind. The arguments for recognition of same-sex marriage have more to do with opinions about human rights and societal order, and APA, as a scientific organization, should have refrained from taking a position on this issue.