FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2006

The Alternatives to Marriage Project (AtMP) laments Wednesday's announcement that 225 grantees have been awarded over $118 million per year for five years to promote marriage. The funds were allocated by Congress as part of the reauthorization of TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families), the 10-year-old welfare program.

When Congress was considering this budget allocation, AtMP commented that this is bad public policy for four reasons:

First, marriage does not necessarily lead adults to escape poverty. While some studies correlate marriage with lower poverty rates, no causation is understood. Realistically, it is much more likely that having a well-paid job increases one’s chances of getting married than that marrying increases one’s chances of getting a well-paid job.

Second, there is no proven link between marrying and ensuring that children live without poverty. Statistically speaking, if every poor child in America were living with both biological parents, two-thirds of them would still be living below the poverty line. New Census figures show that 49% of low-income children live with married parents. Marriage is not a proper indicator that parents can make ends meet.

Third, marriage promotion programs were designed for white, middle class, committed couples and there is no evidence that they can be made relevant and effective for disadvantaged populations struggling to overcome poverty and related hardships.

Fourth, most Americans oppose government’s involvement in personal decisions regarding marriage and object to the use of scarce public dollars to promote it.

Despite our protests, marriage promotion programs have now grown explosively. Compared to several years ago, recent federal government statements are less assertive about both the mandate to convert the unmarried to marriage and the purported link between marriage and leaving poverty. However, non-governmental commentators avidly tout marriage as the ultimate solution. The new federal grants will be used to propagandize a narrow set of beliefs about family structure and to stimulate negative stigmas about alternative family forms that prevail throughout society. As more than half of all American households are now headed by unmarried people, this is an inappropriate use of government funds.

Nicky Grist, the executive director of the Alternatives to Marriage Project, says that, “according to the latest Census snapshot, 32% of American children currently live in unmarried homes. If their parents want or need counseling on conflict resolution, saving and budgeting, or parenting skills, that counseling should be provided unconditionally, without regard to their current or future marital status.”

As advocates concerned about fairness for all families, AtMP calls for the critical evaluation of government-funded marriage programs based on two simple ideas:

1. The purpose of welfare is to reduce poverty. Can marriage programs that are funded under TANF or state and local anti-poverty mandates be proven to reduce poverty?
2. Individuals and families should be treated fairly regardless of their marital status. Do unmarried people or same-sex married couples have equal access to government-funded programs? And does rigorous research distinguish the impact of legal marriage from the impact of stable, two-parent and/or biological parent homes (an increasing number of which are unmarried)?

About the Alternatives to Marriage Project:
The Alternatives to Marriage Project advocates for equality and fairness for unmarried people, including people who are single, those who choose not to marry, cannot marry, or live together outside of marriage. We provide support and information for this fast-growing constituency, fight discrimination on the basis of marital status, and educate the public and policymakers about relevant social and economic issues. We believe that marriage is only one of many acceptable family forms, and that society should recognize and support healthy relationships in all their diversity. AtMP is a national nonprofit organization.