OTTAWA — Kids raised by gay parents aren't worse off psychologically or more prone to be gay themselves, a major health group said Monday as it endorsed same-sex marriage.

Studies have shown almost no difference in sexual preference or in "psychosocial development" for children of same-sex parents, said the Canadian Psychological Association.

Children need to feel their parents are accepted, said the body representing 5,300 psychologists and students across Canada.

"All children deserve to feel that society accepts and recognizes their families," said Dr. Patrick O'Neill, association president. "Children of same-sex couples are no exception."

The association's nod for gay unions was welcomed by proponents locked in a public-relations war with those fighting for traditional marriage.

Laurie Arron of Canadians for Equal Marriage - an independent coalition of gay rights supporters, including the Canadian Labour Congress and the Canadian Association of Social Workers - said the association has produced the most information on the issue of children in gay marriages.

"It shows that equal marriage is not a threat to children," Arron said. He dismissed claims that homosexuals are less than ideal parents.

The federal government has drafted legislation to allow same-sex weddings after courts in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec said the current marriage definition - the union of one man and one woman - violates equality rights. More than 1,000 gay weddings have now been performed.

Ottawa referred its draft legislation to the Supreme Court of Canada to ensure it will stand up to future legal challenges and protect religious groups from having to perform unions against their beliefs. The top court considers the case in April.

A 12-page document released by the Vatican last August urged Roman Catholics to fight gay weddings and adoptions.

"Allowing children to be adopted by persons living in such unions would actually mean doing violence to these children, in the sense that their condition of dependency would be used to place them in an environment that is not conducive to their full human development," it said.

Current research does not support such statements, says Arron.

But available studies do not back up the Canadian Psychological Association's view either, said Derek Rogusky of Focus on the Family. The Langley, B.C.-based Christian group promotes traditional family values.

"The reality is that the research right now on same-sex parenting is very limited," said Rogusky.

"I think it's really unfortunate that a scientific organization would become so politicized. . . . What the CPA should be doing is promoting better research in this area, not coming down on one side."

The debate reaches into the heart of Rachel Epstein's home.

The Toronto resident was artificially inseminated with her daughter, now 11, whom she raised with her lesbian partner.
"She's done pretty well but things have happened," she said of her daughter's upbringing. "As far as she's concerned, she has two moms.

"For sure we have had experiences where parents of kids that she knows are very homophobic and it's had quite serious repercussions for her, at least at certain times."

Education about same-sex families should start at an early age, said Epstein, co-ordinator of a gay and lesbian parenting network at Toronto's Family Service Association.