Social Inclusion and the Value of Marriage Equality in Massachusetts and the Netherlands

Badgett, M.V. Lee

doi:10.1111/j.1540-4560.2011.01700.x

Cited by 66 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Their reasons for getting married and the experiences of marriage are consistent with findings from previous qualitative studies of couples who were among the first to be married in Massachusetts (e.g., Badgett, 2011;Lanutti, 2011;Porche & Purvin, 2008;Schecter, et al, 2008) andCalifornia (Richman, 2013). Like earlier studies (e.g., Haas & Whitton, 2015), couples married because they wanted the legal protections that are provided to spouses.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…Previous qualitative interview studies of same-sex couples in the United States have focused on samples of Massachusetts couples, the first to be able to legally marry in the United States (Badgett, 2011;Lanutti, 2011;Porche & Purvin, 2008;Ramos, Goldberg, & Badgett, 2009;Schecter, Tracy, Page, & Luong, 2008; also see Richman, 2013 who interviewed Massachusetts andCalifornia couples between 2004 and2007). These studies found that samesex couples marry in order to gain legal protections, social validation, and support for their relationship.…”

mentioning

confidence: 96%

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Same-Sex Couples’ Decisions and Experiences of Marriage in the Context of Minority Stress: Interviews From a Population-Based Longitudinal Study

Rostosky

Riggle

Rothblum

et al. 2016

Journal of Homosexuality

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In the emerging context of marriage equality, it is important to explore the reasons for and experience of marriage for long-term same-sex couples, including the role of minority stress. In Wave 3 of the population-based, longitudinal CUPPLES Study we interviewed 21 long-term same-sex couples (14 female, 7 male) who resided in 12 different states and who were legally married. Couple members ranged in age from 37 to 84 and reported being together as a couple from 15 to 41 years. Seven couples lived in states that did not recognize their marriage at the time of the interview. Legal protection and social validation emerged as the two primary domains that captured couples' lived experiences of marriage. Minority stress experiences emerged in the narratives in the context of couples' long-term commitment, the availability of civil marriage, and couples' participation in activist efforts on behalf of marriage equality for themselves and others.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

mentioning

confidence: 96%

Same-Sex Couples’ Decisions and Experiences of Marriage in the Context of Minority Stress: Interviews From a Population-Based Longitudinal Study

Rostosky

Riggle

Rothblum

et al. 2016

Journal of Homosexuality

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“…Textual analyses of open-ended responses to survey questions related to the legalization of same-sex civil unions in Vermont indicated that this policy change was associated with increased psychological benefits and family acceptance, in addition to financial benefits (Rothblum, Balsam, & Solomon, 2011). Other research, conducted in the U.S. and in the Netherlands, has found that same-sex marriage legalization is associated with feelings of greater social inclusion (Badgett, 2011). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of civil union legislation on minority stress, depression, and hazardous drinking in a diverse sample of sexual-minority women: A quasi-natural experiment

Everett

Hatzenbuehler

Hughes

2016

Social Science & Medicine

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Rationale A small but growing body of research documents associations between structural forms of stigma (e.g., same-sex marriage bans) and sexual minority health. These studies, however, have focused on a limited number of outcomes and have not examined whether sociodemographic characteristics, such as race/ethnicity and education, influence the relationship between policy change and health among sexual minorities. Objective To determine the effect of civil union legalization on sexual minority women’s perceived discrimination, stigma consciousness, depressive symptoms, and four indicators of hazardous drinking (heavy episodic drinking, intoxication, alcohol dependence symptoms, adverse drinking consequences) and to evaluate whether such effects are moderated by race/ethnicity or education. Methods During the third wave of data collection in the Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women study (N=517), Illinois passed the Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, legalizing civil unions in Illinois and resulting in a quasi-natural experiment wherein some participants were interviewed before and some after the new legislation. Generalized linear models and interactions were used to test the effects of the new legislation on stigma consciousness, perceived discrimination, depression, and hazardous drinking indicators. Interactions were used to assess whether the effects of policy change were moderated by race/ethnicity or education. Results Civil union legislation was associated with lower levels of stigma consciousness, perceived discrimination, depressive symptoms, and one indicator of hazardous drinking (adverse drinking consequences) for all sexual minority women. For several other outcomes, the benefits of this supportive social policy were largely concentrated among racial/ethnic minority women and women with lower levels of education. Conclusions Results suggest that policies supportive of the civil rights of sexual minorities improve the health of all sexual minority women, and may be most beneficial for women with multiply marginalized statuses.

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“…This sense of social inclusion is likely to bring benefits for individual psychosocial adjustment and mental health. 10 For heterosexual couples, being in a formalised relationship -as opposed to informal cohabitation -is known to have mental health benefits. 11 The widely observed 'marriage benefit' has been attributed to an increased sense of relationship stability and partner support.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The mental health benefits of relationship formalisation among lesbians and gay men in same‐sex relationships

Bariola

Lyons

Leonard

2015

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

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Objectives: To examine links between same-sex relationship formalisation -such as registered domestic partnerships and commitment ceremony unions -and mental health among lesbians and gay men, after controlling for differences in other relationship characteristics.Methods: Data were collected via an online survey of a national sample of Australian lesbians and gay men aged 16 years and older, with the sample for analysis confined to those in a samesex relationship (n=1,420). The K10 Psychological Distress Scale was used as an indicator of mental health.Results: Being in a formalised relationship was associated with lower distress for those aged 16-39 years but not for those aged 40+ years; whereas, intending to formalise was associated with higher distress among the older group. These associations remained significant after controlling for cohabitation, feeling able to seek partner emotional support, relationship tenure and financial arrangements. Conclusions and implications:Relationship formalisation appears to be an important protective factor for mental health among gay men and lesbians, especially among younger sexual minority individuals. These findings suggest that affording same-sex couples the opportunity to formalise their relationship is not only a civil rights issue but also a public health issue.

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Social Inclusion and the Value of Marriage Equality in Massachusetts and the Netherlands

Cited by 66 publications

References 15 publications

Same-Sex Couples’ Decisions and Experiences of Marriage in the Context of Minority Stress: Interviews From a Population-Based Longitudinal Study

Same-Sex Couples’ Decisions and Experiences of Marriage in the Context of Minority Stress: Interviews From a Population-Based Longitudinal Study

The impact of civil union legislation on minority stress, depression, and hazardous drinking in a diverse sample of sexual-minority women: A quasi-natural experiment

The mental health benefits of relationship formalisation among lesbians and gay men in same‐sex relationships

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