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The American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) is a medical association of religous conservative pediatricians and other healthcare professionals in the United States. The College was founded in 2002 by Dr. Joseph Zanga together with 100 dissenting members of the American Academy of Pediatrics in rejection of AAP's statement of support for LGBT parental rights. Although the organization does not disclose its member count, as of May 2010, It was estimated to have about 200 members. Zanga has described ACP as a group "with Judeo-Christian, traditional values that is open to pediatric medical professionals of all religions who hold true to the group's core beliefs: that life begins at conception; and that the traditional family unit, headed by an opposite-sex couple, poses far fewer risk factors in the adoption and raising of children."

The scientific research has been consistent in showing that lesbian and gay parents are as fit and capable as heterosexual parents, and their children are as psychologically healthy and well-adjusted as children reared by heterosexual parents. This consensus is accepted beyond dispute in the field. According to the Maine Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics "Those who claim that children need a biologically related mother and father to flourish are either ignorant of the scientific literature or are misrepresenting it or both. With all respects people are entitled to their beliefs and even their biases but it is plainly wrong to call those beliefs and biases science."

Issue positions

The positions taken by the American College of Pediatricians are socially conservative. These positions include:

• The prohibition of parenting by homosexuals
• The limiting of children's access to television and other media
• Opposition to legislation requiring HPV vaccines
• Opposition to the legalization of marijuana
• Selective use of corporal punishment
• Opposition to abortion

Opposition

PFLAG identifies the American College of Pediatricians as an anti-equality organization, describing the group as "small splinter group of medical professionals who do not support the mainstream view of the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) that homosexuality is a normal aspect of human diversity."

Francis S. Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health, made the following statement regarding the American College of Pediatricians on April 15, 2010: "It is disturbing for me to see special interest groups distort my scientific observations to make a point against homosexuality. The American College of Pediatricians pulled language out of context from a book I wrote in 2006 to support an ideology that can cause unnecessary anguish and encourage prejudice. The information they present is misleading and incorrect, and it is particularly troubling that they are distributing it in a way that will confuse school children and their parents."

In 2010, a letter and "fact sheet" about teen sexual orientation and gender confusion, challenged as non-factual by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association, were mailed to 14,800 school superintendents on behalf of Tom Benton, president of the American College of Pediatricians. The letter primarily addressed same-sex attraction, and recommended that “well-intentioned but misinformed school personnel” who encourage students to “come out as gay” and affirm them as such may lead the students into “harmful homosexual behaviors that they otherwise would not pursue.” The letter also stated that gender identity disorder will typically disappear by puberty “if the behavior is not reinforced.”

The American College of Pediatricians filed an amicus brief in Kathryn Kutil and Cheryl Hess v. Hon. Paul M. Blake, Jr., Judge, et al. The National Association of Social Workers also filed a brief in that case, in which it described the College as a "small faction", and "out of step with the research-based position of the AAP and other medical and child welfare authorities."

References

1. ^ Pro-Life Pediatric Group Stands Contrary to Established American Academy of Pediatrics
2. "History" (PDF). American College of Pediatricians.
3. Kranish, Michael (2005-07-31). "Beliefs drive research agenda of new think tanks". boston.com. Retrieved 2007-10-21.
4. Pinto, Nick (26 May 2010). "University of Minnesota professor's research hijacked". Minneapolis City Pages. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
5. Marriage of Same-Sex Couples – 2006 Position Statement Canadian Psychological Association
6. Cite error: The named reference apsp was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
7. Cite error: The named reference amici2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
8. Third District Court of Appeal State of Florida, July Term, A.D. 2010 Florida Department of Children and Families, Appellant, vs. In re: Matter of Adoption of X.X.G. and N.R.G., Appellees.
9. Kristin M. Perry v. Arnold Schwarzenegger – Order
10. Varnum v. Brien
11. Michael Lamb, Affidavit – United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts (2009)
12. Dr. Dan Summers, American Academy of Pediatrics, Maine Chapter
13. "Position Statements". American College of Pediatricians. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
14. "Anti-Equality Organizations". PFLAG. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
15. "Statement from NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., in Response to the American College of Pediatricians". 2010-04-16. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
16. Horton, Greg (June 23, 2010). "Doctors debate the facts surrounding sexual orientation and gender confusion". Oklahoma Gazette. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
17. http://www.allbusiness.com/society-social/families-children-family-law-child/12301412-1.html
18. Brief of Amici Curiae National Association of Social Workers, p. 15

External links

• Official website

• Pediatrics
• American medical associations
• Health and disability rights organizations in the United States
• Sexual orientation and medicine