 Oct. 17, 2002 |
| ASSEMBLY EDITION • SAN DIEGO |
In line with AAFP's definition of family, the Congress of Delegates on Tuesday adopted a policy on adoption. The delegates called for the Academy to "establish policy and be supportive of legislation which promotes a safe and nurturing environment, including psychological and legal security, for all children, including those of adoptive parents, regardless of the parents' sexual orientation."
The policy, proposed by a reference committee as Substitute Resolution 505, was adopted in lieu of resolutions on equal rights for lesbians and gay men concerning parenting and adoption; on second-parent adoption by people in heterosexual or homosexual relationships; and on creating a safe, nurturing environment for children of adoptive parents, regardless of the parents' lifestyle.
Delegate Thomas Hicks, M.D., of Tallahassee, Fla., told the AAFP Congress Wednesday morning that the reference committee had crafted a balanced compromise in the substitute resolution, one representing a variety of viewpoints.
Throughout discussion of the adoption measures, delegates referred to the AAFP definition of family: "The family is a group of individuals with a continuing legal, genetic and/or emotional relationship. Society relies on the family group to provide for the economic and protective needs of individuals, especially children and the elderly."
On Monday, AAFP President Warren Jones, M.D., of Ridgeland, Miss., read the definition and a related policy on health benefits to the reference committee. "These policies have helped the Academy to steer a very distinct path away from issues that are extremely divisive and irreconcilable within an organization of our structure," said Jones. He noted the AAFP Board of Directors' opposition to passing the original resolutions, saying, "Our definition of family serves us quite well in assuring that any child should have access to appropriate health care and the emotional support required for healthy growth and development."
The reference committee weighed comments pro and con the original proposals and recommended the substitute resolution.
On Tuesday, student delegate Carla Cesario of Providence, R.I., voiced support for the substitute measure on the floor of the Congress of Delegates. "The students realize this is a very difficult subject," said Cesario. "We also recognize that the AAFP has always been a champion of the underrepresented and the underserved. So we call on our leadership once again to protect the family in all its complexity and protect its health, regardless of the parents' gender, race, socioeconomic status or sexual orientation."
AAFP Board Chair Richard Roberts, M.D., J.D., of Madison, Wis., told the delegates, "We each bring deeply held personal beliefs to our Academy participation. However, these personal beliefs do not always and should not always translate into organizational policy. The Board believes our diverse membership is best served by maintaining a neutral position on this issue."
Roberts urged delegates to reaffirm AAFP's current policies on the family and health benefits instead of adopting the substitute resolution.
The voice vote on the substitute was not clear, so a hand count was taken, and the measure passed. Wednesday, the Congress entertained the possibility of reconsidering the substitute resolution. The Congress, however, decided to reaffirm its earlier action and not reconsider Substitute Resolution 505.
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