A Study Found Suicides Fell When Gay Marriage Was Legalized

Closeup of men's hands with wedding rings

The advent of gay marriage has cut suicide rates among lesbians and gay men in Sweden and Denmark - but, divorced, widowed or married, homosexuals are still more prone to suicide than their straight peers, according to a study released at the beginning of 2021.

The researchers said reduced stigma for sexual minorities was likely driving the drop in deaths, culled from official data on thousands of same-sex couples in the two countries, both early adopters of gay marriage.

“Being married is protective against suicide,” said Annette Erlangsen of the Danish Research Institute for Suicide Prevention.

“Legalizing same-sex marriage and other supportive legislative measures - they might actually reduce stigma around sexual minorities,” said Erlangsen, the lead author of the study.

Suicides of people in same-sex unions fell 46% when researchers compared two periods - 2003 to 2016 and 1989 to 2002 - versus 28% among heterosexual couples, according to the paper published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Same-sex married people still killed themselves at more than twice the rate of those in opposite-sex marriages in both periods, reinforcing research from other countries that points to a higher incidence of suicide attempts among LGBTQ+ people.

In 1989, Denmark became the first country in the world to allow same-sex civil unions; Sweden followed suit in 1995.

Gay marriage was legalized in Sweden in 2009 and Denmark in 2012, with both nations seen as global leaders for LGBTQ+ rights.

Same-sex marriage is legal in 27 countries, 16 of them in Europe. Ecuador became the latest nation to introduce it in June.

Young LGBTQ+ people are at least three times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers, according to 35 studies from 10 countries collated by researchers in 2018.

Legislation that promotes LGBTQ+ rights may reduce the risk of suicide - even for those who are not yet old enough to wed.

Suicide attempts by U.S. high school students dropped 7% in states with legal same-sex marriage, a 2017 study by Harvard University found, and 14% among students who identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual.

Erlangsen’s study, which tracked more than 28,000 people in same-sex unions for an average of 11 years, found married lesbians were 2.8 times as likely to die by suicide as women in heterosexual unions and slightly more likely than straight, married men.

Men in gay partnerships were most likely to kill themselves.

“There still remains a considerable degree of homophobia, particularly against male homosexuals,” said Morten Frisch, of Denmark’s Statens Serum Institut, a research body.

“Just under one in three men still consider it morally unacceptable that two men have sex with each other,” he said, citing a survey of more than 62,000 Danes released in October.

Reporting by Rachel Savage, Editing by Lyndsay Griffiths. This article was originally published by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers that covers humanitarian news, women's and LGBTQ+ rights, human trafficking, property rights, and climate change. It was republished with permission. Visit news.trust.org

Article Details

December 21, 2021 11:41 AM
An illustration of two hands tapping on a tablet, which displays the Folx Health webpage

LGBTQ+ folks can now text a new mental health hotline

The new service is a partnership between Crisis Text Line and FOLX Health, hoping to reach more LGBTQ+ youth in crisis.
Left: A screenshot of Dylan Mulvaney saying "it's day 730 of girlhood!" Center: a screenshot of Dylan Mulvaney's single 'Days of Girlhood' in a music player; Right: A screenshot of Dylan Mulvaney saying "and isn't that beautiful?"

Dylan Mulvaney drops new single, donates profits to The Trevor Project for 'Days of Girlhood' TikTok anniversary

Dylan Mulvaney is celebrating her gender transition anniversary with a new song and fundraiser for The Trevor Project.
Smiley Faces for Mental Health

Good Good Good's Mental Health Resources

If you or someone you know is struggling, we urge you to get help. We all struggle sometimes. You’re not alone, you and your story matter, and recovery is possible. Getting help helps.
Suicide Quote Graphic: This life. This night. Your story. Your pain. Your hope. It matters. All of it matters. — Jamie Tworkowski

64 Best Suicide Prevention Quotes for Hope & Healing

We’ve collected meaningful and hopeful quotes about suicide and suicide prevention — but also about experiencing pain, and heaviness, and the big questions of life.

Want to stay up-to-date on positive news?

The best email in your inbox.
Filled with the day’s best good news.