Page "American Psychological Association" Paragraph 56

In August 2011, the APA clarified their support of same-sex marriage in light of continued research suggesting that the same community benefits accepted as result of hetero-sexual marriage apply to same-sex couples as well, " We knew that marriage benefits heterosexual people in very significant ways, but we didn't know if that would be true for same-sex couples ," said Dr. Clinton Anderson, associate executive director of the APA and director of the Office on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns.

Anderson would also go on to clarify the Association's view on Civil Unions as an alternative to same-sex marriages: " Anything other than marriage is, in essence, a stigmatization of same-sex couples.

Stigma does have negative impacts on people.

" Anderson's statements have been met with scrutiny from organizations such as the National Organization for Marriage, that dispute the notion that communities are more accepting of homosexuals in states that legally sanction same-sex marriage.