Why is gay marriage an important topic
Emotive arguments and questionable rhetoric often characterise debates over lgbtq+ marriage. But rare attempts have been made to dispassionately dissect the issue from an academic, science-based perspective.
Regardless of which side of the fence you fall on, the more robust, rigorous and reliable facts that is publicly available, the superior.
There are considerable mental health and wellbeing benefits conferred on those in the fortunate position of being proficient to marry legally. And there are associated deleterious impacts of being denied this opportunity.
Although it would be negligent to suggest the research is unanimous, the majority is either noncommittal (unclear conclusions) or demonstrates the benefits of same-sex marriage.
Further reading: Conservatives prevail to hold back the tide on lgbtq+ marriage
What does the research say?
Widescale analyze suggests that members of the LGBTQ community generally encounter worse mental health outcomes than their heterosexual counterparts. This is possibly due to the stigmatisation they receive.
The mental health benefits of marriage generally are well-documented. In 2009, the American Medical Association off
The gay people against homosexual marriage
For many years, the conservative institution of marriage was never on the gay campaign agenda, says activist Yasmin Nair, who co-founded a group provocatively named Against Equality. But it became an objective in the early 1990s - regretfully, in her view - when the movement emerged from the seismic shock of the Aids epidemic, depleted of political energy.
But gay people who are in favour of same-sex marriage accept anything short of marriage is not equality.
You rarely hear arguments against it by gay people themselves, says Stampp Corbin, publisher of magazine LGBT Weekly, who sees strong parallels with the civil rights movement.
"I'm African American and there were many things society stopped us from doing. When we were slaves we couldn't join, we couldn't marry outside our race and most notably, we couldn't contribute facilities with white people.
"So when I perceive LGBT people saying the same thing: 'I don't think gay and woman loving woman people should get married', is it different from slaves saying: 'I don't think slaves should contain the ability to acquire married'?
Legalizing same-sex marriage is as an vital step toward reducing differences in well-being based on sexual orientation. For example, the subjective well-being of individuals in same-sex couples increased following legalization
in England and Wales in 2014, regardless of union status. As Diederik Boertien and Daniele Vignoli contend, this suggests that legalization also improves well-being by reducing stigma.
Sexual minorities acquire lower subjective well-being as compared to heterosexual individuals (Gonzales & Blewett, 2014). Sources of this well-being gap incorporate social stigma, institutional discrimination, hate crimes and micro-aggressions experienced by sexual minorities. One of the most visible forms of institutional discrimination has been the denial of access to marriage to same-sex couples. Now that same-sex marriage has been legalized in a number of countries, the question arises as to whether well-being disparities have narrowed as a consequence.
How might legalizing homosexual marriage affect the subjective well-being of sexual minority groups? First, marriage is positively related to health, income, wealth, and family satisfaction (Carr and Springer 2010; Piran
The Journey to Marriage Equality in the Merged States
The road to nationwide marriage equality was a long one, spanning decades of United States history and culminating in victory in June 2015. Throughout the long clash for marriage equality, HRC was at the forefront.
Volunteer with HRC
From gathering supporters in small towns across the country to rallying in front of the Supreme Court of the United States, we gave our all to confirm every person, regardless of whom they love, is recognized equally under the law.
A Growing Call for Equality
Efforts to legalize gay marriage began to pop up across the nation in the 1990s, and with it challenges on the state and national levels. Civil unions for same-sex couples existed in many states but created a separate but equivalent standard. At the federal level, couples were denied access to more than 1,100 federal rights and responsibilities associated with the institution, as well as those denied by their given state. The Defense of Marriage Act was signed into law in 1996 and defined marriage by the federal government as between a gentleman and woman, thereby allowing states to deny marriage equality.
New Century &
Marriage equality improved security, stability, and life satisfaction for same-sex couples
New research by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Statute finds that marriage equality has had a profound positive effect on the security and well-being of LGBTQ+ people.
Many married gay couples surveyed said marriage improved their sense of safety and security (83%), life satisfaction (75%), and relationship stability (67%). In addition, marriage has influenced how same-sex couples aid and depend on each other. Approximately one in five couples have contributed to each other’s training costs, provided caregiving for health issues, disabilities, or aging, or relocated when their spouse got a new job.
In June 2015, the Supreme Court’s verdict in Obergefell v. Hodges extended marriage equality throughout the U.S. Almost two-thirds (63%) of the couples surveyed married post-Obergefell.
About 80% of the couples surveyed were very (41%) or somewhat (38%) concerned that the Obergefell decision would be overturned. One-quarter (25%) had taken steps to protect themselves and their families, such as speeding up the timeline for marriage or parenthood, securing second-
Marriage equality improved security, stability, and life satisfaction for same-sex couples
New research by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Statute finds that marriage equality has had a profound positive effect on the security and well-being of LGBTQ+ people.
Many married gay couples surveyed said marriage improved their sense of safety and security (83%), life satisfaction (75%), and relationship stability (67%). In addition, marriage has influenced how same-sex couples aid and depend on each other. Approximately one in five couples have contributed to each other’s training costs, provided caregiving for health issues, disabilities, or aging, or relocated when their spouse got a new job.
In June 2015, the Supreme Court’s verdict in Obergefell v. Hodges extended marriage equality throughout the U.S. Almost two-thirds (63%) of the couples surveyed married post-Obergefell.
About 80% of the couples surveyed were very (41%) or somewhat (38%) concerned that the Obergefell decision would be overturned. One-quarter (25%) had taken steps to protect themselves and their families, such as speeding up the timeline for marriage or parenthood, securing second-