Vt. Mental Health Experts Endorse Same-Sex Marriage | News | Advocate.com

Vt. Mental Health Experts Endorse Same-Sex Marriage  | News | Advocate.com

By Julie Bolcer

Leading mental health and human services organizations came out for marriage equality in Vermont on Monday, citing professional studies that show legalizing gay marriage helps the children of same-sex couples.

"We felt it was important for us to set the record straight about the scholarly literature in our field, and we have lots of different families and the best thing to do for all children is to support parents the best way we can," Jackie Weinstein of the University of Vermont’s Human Development and Families Studies program told WCAX-TV in Burlington.

A same-sex marriage bill is currently under consideration in the Vermont legislature. The bill was introduced in February and has garnered 59 sponsors -- all Democrats -- in the house. In 2000, Vermont became the first state to pass civil unions legislation.

The mental health and human services organizations will testify in support of same-sex marriage next week, when the senate judiciary committee holds a week of hearings and testimony on the bill.

Members of the group include the Vermont Psychological Association, the Vermont Psychiatric Association, the Vermont Association of Mental Health Counselors, and the Vermont chapter of the National Association of Social Workers