LEONARD KARLIN, M.D.

WATERLOO - Dave Lindley (Sept. 5) states the American College of Pediatricians "has clearly stated same-sex marriages are not in the best interest of children," but he fails to attribute the actual study or explain the problem when children are not involved or what it has to do with polygamy in the Netherlands.

At the 2005 National Conference of the American Academy of Pediatricians, Dr. Ellen Perrin, professor of pediatrics at Tufts-New England Medical Center, presented a peer-reviewed study of the data from 15 published studies and found that one to six million children in this country are being raised by gay or lesbian couples. The studies found no difference in intelligence, behavior, self-esteem, psychological problems, well-being, peer relationships or gender identity when compared to children raised by heterosexual couples. Some of the studies followed the children to adulthood and found a similar absence of problems.

Sorry, Mr. Lindley, sometimes the facts fail to cooperate with our prejudices. Children of same-sex couples seem to be doing at least as well as those of heterosexual couples. Allowing the same-sex parents to marry would only further stabilize their situation.

Why would extending marriage privileges to same-sex couples endanger the institution of marriage? And why is who marries whom any of my or your business? And why is the political party "of small government" so involved in private matters?