June 7, 2007

Rockway Institute Convenes Leading Scientific Experts
to Expose Fraudulent Antigay Research Claims

For Immediate Release 
Media Contact: Rick Moore
(415) 314-8952
rmoore.rockway@alliant.edu 
 
For years, wealthy antigay right-wing organizations have inundated the media and the government with misleading and flawed research doubting the fitness of lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual people to marry and raise families. Today, a press conference in New York announced the establishment of the Rockway Institute, a new national think tank of prominent academics, scientists, and physicians assembled to authoritatively counter the right-wing’s distorted claims. Providing impeccable research and expert testimony to journalists, legislators, and courts, Rockway stands as the central “go-to” resource for questions about LGBT issues.

Explaining the necessity of the Rockway Institute, Executive Director Robert-Jay Green, Ph.D., noted that solid research is instrumental in the movement toward LGBT equality. “All of the successful challenges to antigay laws were based firmly on the American Psychiatric Association’s 1973 decision to declassify homosexuality as a mental illness, which, in turn, was informed by groundbreaking psychological research,” Dr. Green stated. “Similarly, all of the currently active court cases and legislative hearings concerning same-sex marriage and same-sex parenting rights depend heavily on well-conducted and fresh research.”

In addition to Dr. Green, the press conference also featured pediatric expert Dr. Ellen Perrin of Tufts-New England Medical Center, who spoke about the development of children raised by same-sex parents, and Dr. David Greenan of the Minuchin Center on the Family  and Teachers College-Columbia University, who spoke about the psychological importance of marriage to same-sex couples. Providing the human face of the research discussed, Jo-Ann Shain and Mary Jo Kennedy, partners for 26 years, discussed their quality relationship with their teenage daughter and their ongoing fight for marriage equality.

This evening, the Rockway Institute will continue to introduce its mission to the public with an event entitled “Lesbian and Gay Relationships:  Fighting the False Science of Antigay Groups” at 7:00 at New School University’s Wollman Hall.  The event, featuring Dr. Green, Dr. Perrin, and Dr. Jack Drescher, a nationally renowned psychiatric expert, will further discuss the expanding importance of the Rockway Institute in fighting the lies of the antigay right as questions about marriage equality and same-sex parenting continue to take center stage in our political debates, especially now as the 2008 presidential election approaches.

Research scientists, mental health professionals, and physicians with LGBT expertise who wish to volunteer as Rockway Fellows should contact the Institute by email at rockway@alliant.edu.

LGBT organizations or news media seeking experts should contact Rick Moore by telephone at 415-314-8952 or by email at rmoore.rockway@alliant.edu . 

Donors who wish to support the work of the Rockway Institute can donate securely online by following the instructions on our home webpage, www.rockwayinstitute.org or by contacting us by email, rockway@alliant.edu.
 
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