Study: Same-sex couples are less likely to divorce
Same-sex couples are more likely to have stable, long-lasting relationships than straight couples, according to a new study.
Statistical research conducted by the Williams Institute at the University of California looked at data on the break-up of same-sex marriages and partnerships in New Hampshire, Vermont, California, DC, New Jersey, Washington and Wisconsin.
The data showed that in New Hampshire and Vermont, 5.4% and 3.6% of marriages were terminated across the first four years of marriage equality.
While these numbers seems high, it corresponds to an annual relationship termination rate of 1.1% – which is just over half the comparable mixed-sex divorce rate of 2%.
Interestingly, terminations of civil unions and domestic partnerships were slightly higher at 1.7% annually, but separations are still lower than for opposite-sex marriages.
Researchers also observed that even in states which have had marriage equality for some years, there has been a boom in weddings since the federal Defense of Marriage Act was struck down, and same-sex weddings came into the mainstream.
It found: “Before 2013, the number of weddings in Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont decreased each year as the pent-up demand for wedding played itself out.
“In 2013, the number of weddings jumped in all three states, reversing that earlier downward trend and suggesting that the Windsor decision may have contributed to more marriages.
“Across the three states, the number of same-sex couples who married nearly doubled from 2012 to 2013.”
