Same-Sex Marriage Laws Improve Gay Health

'Equality may produce broad public health benefits': expert
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 18, 2011 2:20 PM CST
Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage Makes Gay Men Healthier
Darren Major, left, and his husband Andrew Troup pose for a photograph Thursday June 30, 2011 in New York.   (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)

Want to improve the health of gay men? Just legalize gay marriage, the New York Daily News reports. A new study shows that gay men in Massachusetts visited a health care clinic 13% less often after same-sex marriage was legalized in the state in 2003. The result suggests "that marriage equality may produce broad public health benefits by reducing the occurrence of stress-related health conditions," says an expert behind the study.

The 12-month study of more than 1,200 patients at a gay health care clinic also found that their health costs dropped by 14%. Both single and attached gay men benefited from the same-sex marriage law. The study backs up earlier research that showed that banning gay marriage had a negative effect the health of homosexuals. Six states have legalized gay nuptials so far: Iowa, New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont, in addition to Massachusetts. Washington, DC, allows for it, too. (More same-sex marriage stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X