The Longest “Legal” U.S. Same‐Sex Couples Reflect on Their Relationships

Abstract

Vermont was the first U.S. state to create a legal status for same‐sex couples (civil unions). Same‐sex couples who entered into civil unions during the first year of availability were asked to reflect on their relationship 3 years later. Written essays from 452 members of civil union couples were analyzed via thematic analysis. Most couple members considered the civil union to be highly significant, providing increased benefits and legitimacy. Some couple members did not consider the civil union to be as significant; they mentioned that civil unions were not the same as marriage, did not reflect the longevity of their relationship, or that their family of origin was still unsupportive. Some couple members got involved in political action to legalize their relationship and some had since gotten married in Canada, Massachusetts, or elsewhere. The implications of these findings for understanding minority stress, relationship investment, and future directions are discussed.

Similarities and Differences in the Pursuit of Intimacy among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Individuals: A Personal Projects Analysis

“…The elimination of discriminatory social policies that limit the pursuit of intimacy for LGB individuals will likely result in a reduction in the disparities reviewed above. For example, recent studies demonstrate that LGBs who are married or in legally recognized relationships experience less minority stress and greater commitment, eudaimonic well‐being, social inclusion, and social support than LGBs in relationships that are not legally recognized (Badgett, this issue; Riggle et al, 2010; Rothblum, Balsam, and Solomon, this issue). Additional research is necessary to understand the ways in which legal recognition of same‐sex couples can potentially reduce the barriers and devaluation experienced by LGBs in their pursuits of intimacy.…”

Challenges and Opportunities for Research on Same‐Sex Relationships

“…Therefore, dyadic data have been used to advance our understanding of same-sex partner dynamics. Researchers have analyzed dyadic data from same-sex partners using diverse methods, including surveys (Rothblum, Balsam, & Solomon, 2011a), in-depth interviews (Reczek & Umberson, 2012), ethnographies (Moore, 2008), and narrative analysis (Rothblum, Balsam, & Solomon, 2011b). A few nonprobability samples that include dyadic data have also incorporated a longitudinal design (e.g., Kurdek, 2006; Solomon, Rothblum, & Balsam, 2004).…”

Contextual Relational Uncertainty Model: Understanding Ambiguity in a Changing Sociopolitical Context of Marriage

“…A desire to reinvent relationship trajectories (Frost, 2011b) can create uncertainty about what such alternatives would look like and how marriage will affect LGBQ individuals and communities (see Lannutti, 2005). Given that same-sex marriage has become legal in only recent decades, for example, there are few models of same-sex marriage (Reczek et al, 2009) and limited research to provide insight (see Porche & Purvin, 2008; see also Rothblum, Balsam, & Solomon, 2011, for an example of the "longest married" same-sex couples). Similarly, some marriage researchers (e.g., Gallagher, 2004;Hawkins & Carroll, 2014) have argued that this societal redefinition of marriage (i.e., removing the man-woman gendered definition and focus on procreation) would alter marital meaning and change behavior for different-sex couples as well.…”