Psychology has an important perspective to bring to the topics of marriage and family issues for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. APA has been actively involved in highlighting that perspective through the researchbased resolutions, briefs for legal cases and additional resources
In The Future of Marriage, scholar David Blankenhorn explains that a social institution is" a pattern of rules and structures intended to meet social needs. " David Blankenhorn, The Future of Marriage, (New York: Encounter Books, 2007) p.
For samesex marriage advocates, marriage is about material benefits (of financial advantage, inheritance rights, control of medical care, etc. ), or it is about social status and recognition (the attainment of equality under the law for a relationship hitherto left out of its ambit), or it is about a liberationist ideological project (the