他山之石 : 美國心理學會對於婚姻平權的聲明



關於婚姻平權
美國心理學會早有豐富的研究與論述
而且還不斷累積中
期待台灣相關助人領域的學會也可以有類似的小組運作與行動

網站內有豐富的資料與一路走來的紀錄
http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/marriage-and-family.aspx

以下就學會在2011年發表的聲明做了簡單的翻譯,字字句句都有堅實的研究做基礎,行文間所傳達出對於弱勢的關懷令人感動,值得每位助人工作者參考。

Resolution on Marriage Equality for Same-Sex Couples
Adopted by the APA Council of Representatives on August 3-5, 2011.

#關於同性伴侶婚姻平權的決議

(美國心理學會理事會於2011年8月3~5日通過)

Whereas people benefit by sharing their lives with and receiving support from their family, friends, and other people who are important to them (Cohen & Wills, 1985);
基於個體能受益於跟家人、朋友、重要他人分享生活,並且得到支持。

Whereas a person’s sexual orientation defines the universe of persons with whom he or she is likely to find the satisfying and fulfilling romantic and intimate relationships that, for many individuals, comprise an essential component of personal identity (D’Augelli, 2000; Gonsiorek & Weinrich, 1991; Herek, 2001, 2006; Peplau & Garnets, 2000);
基於性取向界定了個體的世界觀;包括跟誰在一起可以獲得滿足,感覺浪漫與親密,構成了人格基本的要素。

Whereas homosexuality is a normal expression of human sexual orientation that poses no inherent obstacle to leading a happy, healthy, and productive life, including the capacity to form healthy and mutually satisfying intimate relationships with another person of the same sex and to raise healthy and well-adjusted children, as documented by several professional organizations (American Psychiatric Association, 1974; American Psychological Association, 2004a, 2004b; Conger, 1975, National Association of Social Workers, 2003);
基於同性戀作為一種性取向的正常表達,可以毫無障礙地過著快樂、健康、富於產能的生活。包括有能力與另一個同性建立相互滿足的親密關係,養育健康且適應良好的小孩。以上發現受到各專業組織的證實。

Whereas many gay men and lesbians, like their heterosexual counterparts, desire to form stable, long-lasting, and committed intimate relationships and are successful in doing so (Gates, 2006; Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2001; Herek, Norton, Allen, & Sims 2010; Peplau & Fingerhut, 2007; Simmons & O’Connell, 2003);
基於許多男女同志,如同他們的異性戀父母,渴望形成穩定、長期、承諾的親密關係,並且可以圓滿達成。

Whereas the consideration of policies to provide or deny same-sex couples full access to civil marriage and other legal forms of family formation in all branches of both the federal and state governments in the United States has frequently subjected the human rights of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people to public debate and resulted in wide variation among jurisdictions 行政區 in access to these rights (Gates, Badgett, & Ho, 2008; Hatzenbuehler, McLaughlin, Keyes, & Hasin, 2010; Herek, 2006; National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 2010; Rostosky, Riggle, & Horne 2009; Russell, 2000);
基於聯邦政府或者各州在政策上,無論同意或反對同性伴侶的結婚權(或以其他形式合法組成家庭),對同志人權均有公開辯論,也在各州得到廣泛的不同結果。

Whereas emerging evidence suggests that statewide campaigns to deny same-sex couples legal access to civil marriage are a significant source of stress to the lesbian, gay, and bisexual residents of those states and may have negative effects on their psychological well-being (Hatzenbuehler et al., 2010; Rostosky et al., 2009);
基於各種證據顯示,對於各州舉行的反對同性婚姻合法之各種活動,成為同志主要的壓力來源,並對心理健康有負向影響。

Whereas the denial of civil marriage, including the creation of legal statuses such as civil unions and domestic partnerships, stigmatizes same-sex relationships, perpetuates 不朽 the stigma historically attached to homosexuality, and reinforces prejudice against lesbian, gay, and bisexual people (Badgett, 2009; Herek, 2006; Hull, 2006);
基於對公民婚姻的否認,包括各種合法地位如:民事結合、同居伴侶關係,均對同性伴侶產生汙名,使得這些淵源流長的污名永久附著於同志身上,加重了對於同志的歧視。

Whereas many gay, lesbian, and bisexual adults who are in a committed same-sex relationship have taken advantage of the right to marriage, either in their home jurisdictions or in other jurisdictions, even though many jurisdictions that do not permit marriage of same-sex couples do not recognize these valid marriages (Badgett, 2009; Gates et al., 2008; Herel, Marech, & Lelchuk, 2004; Marech, 2004);
基於許多擁有承諾關係的同性伴侶渴望透過婚姻得到權益與保障,不管在本州或他州,甚至在其他否認同性婚姻有效性的州。

Whereas many other adults who are in a committed same-sex relationship wish to marry, but are prevented by state law from being married in their home jurisdiction or from receiving recognition of their marriages performed elsewhere (Herek et al., 2010);
基於許多擁有承諾關係的同性伴侶想要結婚,卻因法律無法在其州內結婚,或者得到他州結婚的認可。

Whereas empirical research demonstrates that the psychological and social aspects of committed relationships between same-sex partners closely resemble those of heterosexual partnerships, and an emerging research literature suggests that legally recognized same-sex relationships may also be similar to heterosexual marriages in these psychological and social aspects (Balsam, Beauchaine, Rothblum, & Solomon, 2008; Kurdek, 2004, 2005; Peplau & Fingerhut, 2007);
基於實證研究證實,不管從心理或社會上,承諾的同性伴侶非常類似於異性戀伴侶。新近研究顯示,法律認可的同性關係,心理與社會上也與異性婚姻相似。

Whereas married individuals generally receive social, economic, health, and psychological benefits from their marital status, including numerous rights and benefits provided by private employers and by state and federal governments (Badgett, 2001; Brown, 2000; Chauncey 2005; Gove, Hughes, & Style, 1983; Gove, Style, & Hughes, 1990; Kiecolt-Glaser, 2001; Murray, 2000; Ross, Mirowsky, Goldsteen, 1990; Stack & Eshleman, 1998; Williams, 2003;
基於結婚的個體可以從婚姻地位中,獲得社會、經濟、健康、與心理上的好處,包括無以數計從雇主與公部門所提供的權利與福利。

Whereas all people can be adversely affected by high levels of stress and the link between experiencing stress and manifesting symptoms of psychological or physical illness is well established in human beings and other species (Cohen, Doyle, & Skoner, 1999; Dohrenwend, 2000); Kiecolt-Glaser, McGuire, Robles, & Glaser, 2002);
基於高水平的壓力對所有人均會產生不良影響,各種族間的研究也證實了壓力與心理症狀與身體疾病有關。

Whereas individuals with a homosexual or bisexual orientation are often subjected to minority stress, that is, additional stress beyond what is normally experienced by the heterosexual population, as a consequence of stigma, discrimination, and violence (Badgett, 2001; Berrill, 1992; Herek, 2009; Herek, Gillis, Cogan, 1999; Mays & Cochran, 2001; Meyer, 1995; 2003; Meyer, Schwartz, & Frost, 2008);
基於同志普遍承受少數族群的壓力,這些額外的壓力(諸如:汙名、歧視、暴力)遠超過異性戀群體所承受的一般壓力。

Whereas the experience of minority stress may create somewhat higher levels of illness or psychological distress in the sexual minority population, compared to the heterosexual population (Herek & Garnets, 2007; Mays & Cochran, 2001; Meyer, 1995; 2003);
基於性/別弱勢族群所經驗的壓力,相對於異性戀群體,會加深其疾病與心理痛苦。

Whereas minority stress is common to all minority groups that experience stressors due to prejudice and discrimination based on their minority status (Meyer, 2003);
基於弱勢族群所承受的壓力有其普遍性,主要來自位居弱勢所帶來的偏見與歧視,使他們容易經驗到壓力。

Whereas lesbian, gay, and bisexuals with multiple minority statuses (e.g., people of color, persons with disabilities) often experience a dual minority stress that may negatively impact their mental health (Crawford, Allison, Zamboni, & Soto, 2002; Green, 1994; Harley, Nowak, Gassaway, & Savag, 2002).
基於帶著多重弱勢的同志(如:種族膚色、障礙失能)常常經驗到多重弱勢的壓力,這些壓力對其心理健康有不良影響。

Whereas policies supportive of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people’s human rights may have positive effects on their psychological well-being (Blake, Ledsky, Lehman, Goodenow, Sawyer, Hack, 2001; Goodenow, Szalacha, & Westheimer, 2006; Hatzenbuehler, Keyes, Hasin, 2009);
基於政策如果支持同志族群的權益,將會對其心理健康帶來正面影響。

Therefore be it resolved that the American Psychological Association supports full marriage equality for same-sex couples;
因此美國心理學會對於同性伴侶的婚姻平權堅定地表達支持。

Be it further resolved that the American Psychological Association reiterates its opposition to ballot measures, statutes, constitutional amendments, and other forms of discriminatory policy aimed at limiting lesbian, gay, and bisexual people’s access to legal protections for their human rights, including such measures as those that deny same-sex couples the right to marry (Conger, 1975, APA 2007);
美國心理學會更進一步重申:我們反對各種透過投票、法規、修改憲法、與其他形式的歧視性政策,來限制同志族群獲得人權上的合法保護,包括那些否認同性伴侶結婚權的政策。

Be it further resolved that the American Psychological Association calls on state governments to repeal all measures that deny same-sex couples the right to civil marriage and to enact laws to provide full marriage equality to same-sex couples;
我們更呼籲:州政府廢除那些反對同性伴侶婚姻權的政策,並促進修法以提供同性伴侶完整的婚姻權。

Be it further resolved that the American Psychological Association calls on the federal government to extend full recognition to legally married same-sex couples, and to accord them all of the rights, benefits, and responsibilities that it provides to legally married different-sex couples;
我們也呼籲聯邦政府全面性地擴展對於同性伴侶婚姻權的認可,賦予他們與合法結婚的異性伴侶相同的權利、義務、與福利。

Be it further resolved that the American Psychological Association encourages psychologists and other behavioral scientists to conduct quality research that extends our understanding of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual population, including the role of close relationships and family formation on the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults and youths;
我們也呼籲心理學家與行為科學家生產有品質的研究,以擴展我們對於同志族群的理解。包括親密關係中的角色、與家庭的形成,以促進同志族群成人與年輕人的健康與生命品質。

Be it further resolved that the American Psychological Association encourages psychologists and other professionals with appropriate knowledge to take the lead in developing interventions and in educating the public to reduce prejudice and discrimination and to help ameliorate the negative effects of stigma;
我們也呼籲心理學家與專業人士帶著審慎合宜的知識,引領社會發展介入行動,並且教育社會大眾減低偏見與歧視,以改善歧視所帶來的負面效應。

Be it further resolved that the American Psychological Association will work with government and private funding agencies to promote such research and interventions to improve the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people.
美國心理學會將會與政府與私人基金會一起合作,推動研究與介入行動,以促進同志族群的健康與生命品質。