I love the phrase “For science!” so I was excited to see a study released about the affects of marriage equality and discrimination:
[P]reventing gay and lesbian couples from getting married leads to negative side effects, including a 37% increase in mood disorders, a 42% increase in alcohol-use disorders, and a 248% increase in generalized anxiety disorders, according to Mark Hatzenbuehler, a psychologist at Columbia University.
And the opposite is true as well:
Hatzenbuehler has also found, in a study conducted in Massachusetts, that gay men experienced fewer stress-related disorders after that state permitted gay marriage.
In a study tracking the health of 1,211 gay men in Massachusetts, Hatzenbuehler found that the men visited doctors less often and had lower health treatment costs after Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage.
It’s interesting to see studies showing this, and just the fact that having the rights we fight for are enough to boost public health. Coupled with the economic benefits of marriage equality and non-discrimination ordinances, it really is a no-brainer. And that’s science!
You can read more about it here.
All my best,
Mike
