SUMMARY: A recent study found that same sex marriage doesn't appear to affect rates of opposite sex marriage.
Gay couples tying the knot most likely won't doom the institution of "traditional" marriage, according to a new study published in PLOS One. The researchers aimed to carry out an unemotional, scientific examination of a very emotion-charged and controversial question: Does the legalization of gay marriage weaken or undermine traditional marriage?
Researchers from Portland State University looked at data between 1899 and 2009 from the 13 states and District of Columbia where same sex marriage or civil unions are legal. They took the total number of marriages in each state and adjusted it downward for each same sex marriage on record. This way, the scientists were able to see how the opposite sex marriage rate changed over time.
Using complex mathematical formulae and statistical analysis, the researchers determined that the long-term effects of same sex marriage and civil unions on opposite sex marriages was close to zero. They found no statistical significance in the hypothesis that gay marriages and civil unions have a "deleterious effect on state rates of opposite sex marriage."
These findings contrast sharply with the arguments posed by opponents of same gender marriage, who argue that the social effects of legalizing same sex unions is an "assault" on the sanctity of marriage. Some have proposed that recognizing gay marriage could cause a destabilization of traditional marriage, encouraging more couples to live together out of wedlock.
But this data doesn't support those claims. Marriage between men and women appears to be holding mostly steady, despite legal rights of gay couples to marry in some states. Study authors note that other countries in which same sex marriage is legal (such as Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, and the Netherlands) also show no significant changes in opposite sex marriage following the enactment of marriage equality laws.
In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) argues that legalized same sex marriage may benefit society by providing additional security and adoption opportunities for children. The AAP released a statement in March 2013 "advocating for public policies that help all children and their parents, regardless of sexual orientation."
Researchers hope to expand their study to include divorce rates, as well as data from states that began recognizing same sex marriage after 2009. These data may change the picture, the authors admit, but currently there seems to be reasonable evidence that "traditional" marriages and families are not threatened with extinction due to marriage equality legislation.
What are your thoughts on same sex marriage and civil unions? Share thoughts below.
Expectingor a new parent? Get customized tips, tricks,and advice for pregnancy andbeyond by signingup for our newsletter.
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons