Marriage Equality: Study Finds Kids Do Just Fine In Same-Sex-Parented Families

In the waning days of the marriage equality postal survey, a new medical study has refuted one of the "No" campaign’s biggest arguments.

According to the Guardian, a comprehensive study set to be published in the Medical Journal of Australia shows children raised by same-sex parents do just as well as children raised by heterosexual parents.

The review, titled "The Kids Are Okay", relies on three decades of peer-reviewed research, and its authors note that the results have been replicated internationally and across independent Australian studies too.

Not only does the report conclude kids in same-sex-parented families do just as well emotionally, socially and educationally as those with heterosexual parents, it found that it’s actually "discrimination… that harms children".

"Young LGBTIQ+ people are much more likely to experience poor mental health, self-harm and suicide than other young people," said the study’s senior author, Professor Frank Oberklaid.

"Sadly, this is largely attributed to the harassment, stigma and discrimination they and other LGBTIQ+ individuals and communities face in our society."

He also indicated that some of the tactics used by the "No" campaigners” had caused significant hurt.

"The negative and discriminatory rhetoric of the current marriage equality debate is damaging the most vulnerable members of our community—children and adolescents. It’s essential that we recognise the potential for the debate about marriage equality to cause harm for our children and young people."

Read More:

Marriage Equality: What Are the Mental Health Consequences of a "No" Result in the Postal Survey?

Last week it was revealed that the "Yes" campaign has a massive lead in Australia’s marriage equality postal survey, but six million people are yet to cast their vote.

Voters have until November 7 to return their ballots (but, for safety’s sake, you’ll want to get it back by October 27—this is snail mail, after all).

Photo: iStock.com/Cloud-Mine-Amsterdam