Pediatric Physicians 'Homophobia' Policy Is a Dangerous Political Game

By Janet Parshall, Special to CP Tuesday, July 30, 2013

How sad that more and more professional organizations are succumbing to political correctness, and, in so doing, betray the very professionals they allege to represent.

Consider the American Academy of Pediatrics. Founded in 1930, they purport to represent 60,000 pediatricians. But over the years, this organization has drifted more and more into the quicksand of political controversy.

They have supported the Affordable Care Act, spoken out on gun control and now, they are issuing policy statements on homosexuality.

When the decisions were handed down from the US Supreme Court on DOMA and Proposition 8, the AAP issued a statement which said, in part"

"The American Academy of Pediatrics has advocated that civil marriage for same-gender couples is the best way to guarantee benefits and security for their children. If a child has two loving and capable parents who choose to create a permanent bond, it's in the best interest of their children that legal institutions allow them to do so."

Here's the dilemma. It's one thing for my pediatrician to discuss whether or not my child should be vaccinated for diphtheria, but it is quite another for him to start advocating forso-called same-sex marriage, defending it as being in the best interest of the child. I want a pediatrician, not a politician when I take my baby to the doctor.

Last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a policy statement on what they are calling "heterosexism" and "homophobia." The policy statement is technically non-binding but what often starts as a suggestion can quickly devolve into a mandate.

The policy directs pediatricians to create an office atmosphere that is ""teen-friendly and welcoming to all adolescents, regardless of sexual orientation and behavior." Brochures featuring both opposite and same-sex couples should be readily available to patients and, rainbow decals should be posted for the public to see.

It doesn't stop there. The policy goes on to say, pediatricians "should support or create gay-straight alliances at schools, and support the development and enforcement of zero-tolerance policies for homophobic teasing, bullying, harassment and violence."

Saddest of all, the AAP denigrates the concept of changing sexual orientation, something often referred to as "reparative therapy." The policy says such therapy is "never indicated." It also chastises any pediatrician who "does not feel competent to provide specialized care for sexual-minority teens and their families" to refer patients and their families to someone else. Why? Because according to the policy statement, being gay is "normal" and "just different." The AAP declares that "heterosexism" (the belief that heterosexual is the norm) is "insidious" and "damaging"

What happens to those evangelical physicians who, by supporting traditional marriage, are deemed to be "enemies of the nation" merely because they take, as Truth, the declaration that sexual expression is reserved for marriage - the union of one man and one woman? Will they be marginalized within their own profession because they will not tow the party line for the AAP?

With health care already unraveling in this country, picking a political fight among physicians is not just poor timing. It's bad medicine.

Janet Parshall is the host of IN THE MARKET, a nationally syndicated radio program carried on the Moody Broadcasting Network.