A new study published in Developmental Psychology says that same-sex couples in legally bound relationships appear to stay in their relationships longer than those who are not legally recognized.Following are excerpts from The Advocate’s August 27 coverage of this study’s findings:
. . . The study is a five-year project that began in 2002, the year same-sex civil unions were legalized in Vermont.
Robert-Jay Green, executive director of LGBT research organization Rockway Institute, said the study shows that civil union status itself may help preserve relationships. “There are many ways that a legal couple status may support a relationship – more family understanding, acceptance by friends and coworkers, greater commitment that results from a public declaration, and enhanced legal protections in the form of health care benefits and community property,” Green said in a statement on Tuesday.
About 9% of same-sex couples not in civil unions ended their relationship, while only 3.8% of same-sex couples in a civil union ended their relationships. The study was conducted by Kimberly F. Balsam and Theodore P. Beauchaine of the University of Washington, Esther D. Rothblum of San Diego State University, and Sondra E. Solomon of the University of Vermont.
Thanks to Michael in Norfolk for bringing news of this report to my attention. On his blog, Michael has the following to say about this study and its implications:
One of the smears that the anti-gay Christianists* throw at gays is that gay relationships are unstable and/or that gays are unable/unwilling to be faithfully monogamous. Of course meanwhile, they do everything in their power to undermine gay relationships and make sure they have no recognized legal status. If anything, I believe it’s amazing how many stable, long lasting gay relationships manage to endure given all the negatives that are working against them. . . . Personally, I think the Christianists are afraid that broadly available marriage rights for same-sex couples will demonstrate that gays are as stable in relationships as their heterosexual counterparts. Should this occur, the Christianists lose yet another stone to throw at LGBT citizens.
* Michael distinguishes between Christians and right-wing fundamentalists and extremists who claim to be Christian by ascribing the term “Christianist” to the latter.
See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
The Same People
What Straights Can Learn from Gay Marriage
Good News from the Golden State
Love is Love
The Changing Face of "Traditional Marriage"
Naming and Confronting Bigotry
The Real Gay Agenda
Civil Unions and Christian Tradition
Separate is Not Equal
Mainstream Voice of "Dear Abby" Supports Gay Marriage
New Studies: Gay Couples as Committed as Straight Couples
Just Love
This "Militant Secularist" Wants to Marry a Man
Good News from Minnesota
Not that the McGreevey Effect has any salience for those of us out and proud as adults 35 years ago and earlier
ReplyDelete. . . that we need validation by quackery, because we disproved thir lies and nonsense by our lives, not waiting for them to become scientific and validate us . . .
since that has yet to happen.
But several friends, including our good friend Gary detects evidence of the Stockholm Syndrome in this post and by those who cite it. The Stockholm Syndrome, of course, is demonstrated over and over by those those who embrace those that afflict them.
So, we are hardly surprised that those still victims of the Stockholm Syndrome still appeal to their victims for validation. How many times before you accept it?
As my friend Gary keeps asking:
What is it about the Stockholm Syndrome that closet cases keep ignoring? Maybe the mirror? The truth is not found in "studies" and rabbinical "texts?" But some people never learn.
I don't know. But I do know the Stockholm Syndrome when I see it. And its not my image that is reflected in it.