Advocating for Marriage and Family Protections for LGBTQIA+ Individuals

WHEREAS, The NAACP affirms the fundamental right of all individuals to marry, form families, and pursue their lives free from discrimination, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity; and

WHEREAS, The freedom to marry the person of one's choice is a constitutionally protected right, as established in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), and the Respect for Marriage ACT (RFMA), passed by Congress in 2022, affirmed the legal recognition of both same sex and interracial marriages nationwide, and yet continues to face challenges from legislative and judicial actions aiming to restrict marriage equality; and

WHEREAS, LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples face systemic barriers to accessing family planning services, including fertility treatments, surrogacy, and adoption, and are frequently subjected to discriminatory practices that undermine their ability to build families; and

WHEREAS, Research from the American Academy of Pediatrics study from 2013 and reaffirmed in 2022 states that "extensive research documents that there is no causal relationship between parents' sexual orientation and children's emotional, psychosocial, and behavioral development. Many studies attest to the normal development of children of same-gender couples when the child is wanted, the parents have a commitment to shared parenting, and the parents have strong social and economic supports." Simply stated, children raised in loving LGBTQIA+ households experience comparable emotional, psychological, and social outcomes to those raised in heterosexual households, making efforts to restrict LGBTQIA+ parental rights baseless and harmful; and

WHEREAS, Denying same-sex couples' access to adoption, foster care, and other family-building services deprives children in need of loving homes and perpetuates discriminatory practices that harm LGBTQIA+ families; and

WHEREAS, Recent legislative and executive efforts, including components of Project 2025 and actions by the current presidential administration, have targeted the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, couples, and families, including:

• Proposals to limit marriage equality by encouraging the passage of laws defining marriage exclusively as a union between one man and one woman.
• Policies allowing agencies receiving federal funding to discriminate against same-sex couples in adoption, foster care, and family planning services under the guise of "religious freedom";
• Efforts to eliminate federal and state funding for fertility treatments and surrogacy services for LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP unequivocally supports the right to marriage equality for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, and opposes any federal, state, or municipal legislation, executive action, or judicial ruling that seeks to limit or revoke this right.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP advocates for the protection and expansion of access to fertility treatments, surrogacy services, and other family planning options for LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples, ensuring equitable access to these resources.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP opposes all forms of discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals and couples seeking to adopt or foster children and calls for federal, state, and local policies ensuring equal access to these services for all families.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP calls on federal and state agencies to prohibit the use of religious or other exemptions to justify discrimination against LGBTQIA+ families, particularly in services funded by taxpayer dollars.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP urges Congress and state legislatures to enact comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBTQIA+ individuals in marriage, family planning, and related areas to ensure equitable treatment under the law.