The time has come for Pennsylvanians to raise our voices loudly in opposition to those who would write bigotry into our state and federal constitutions.

		Sarah H. Springer, M.D., is medical director of International Adoption Health Services of Western Pennsylvania and chair of the section on adoption and foster care at the American Academy of Pediatrics (springers@pediatricalliance.com).

This week, the U.S. Senate is considering an amendment to the Constitution -- the "Marriage Protection Amendment" -- that would limit the definition of marriage to heterosexual unions. Similar legislation is being debated in the Pennsylvania Legislature this summer. Proponents say that these measures will protect children and preserve "traditional values," but nothing could be further from the truth. Any legislation that categorically denies legal recognition to any class of family will bring irreparable harm to children.

When legal recognition of committed couples and families is denied, children lose health insurance, inheritance rights and the rights to have their parents make medical and educational decisions for them. Children can lose the right to have a parent present for their comfort in medical settings, and can lose the protection of support in the case of parental separations, which happen sometimes in homosexual relationships, just as they do in heterosexual marriages.

Defining marriage as only between a man and a woman could deny thousands of children who wait for foster and adoptive homes the availability of willing, capable, loving parents.

Every scientifically done study has shown that children in these families are as well-adjusted, happy and healthy as are children in heterosexual-parent families. Every major child welfare organization stands in support of legal recognition for all families, regardless of the sexual orientation of parents. We cannot afford to marginalize hundreds of thousands of children and families.

This is an issue that affects all of us. According to 2000 census data, families with same-sex parents live in 96 percent of counties in the United States, representing as many as 12 percent of all children. The adults involved are our neighbors and co-workers, and the children are our children's classmates. They will not go away if we deny them legal recognition, they will simply be permanently relegated to second-class citizenship.

Even though the amendment being considered is not likely to pass in the U.S. Senate, this issue will continue to be debated. It is important that people of good conscience stand up for what is right for all children and families.

Proponents of these amendments argue that allowing gay marriages will harm traditional families. This was the same argument used in days gone by to oppose interfaith marriages and inter-racial marriages. These claims were based on nothing but fear and prejudice, and we have learned, of course, that diversity makes all of our lives richer.

Pennsylvanians, let us unite to support all families and children. Let our elected leaders know that we stand strongly opposed to constitutional amendments which limit the definition of family.