Same-sex partnerships may be good for couples

Lord Zentei · Post by **Lord Zentei** » 2006-02-15 04:00am

CNN wrote:Same-sex partnerships may be good for couples

Tuesday, February 14, 2006; Posted: 1:13 p.m. EST (18:13 GMT)

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Gay and lesbian civil partnerships could bring lasting health benefits to same-sex couples, researchers said on Tuesday.

Doctors already know that marriage benefits the health of both sexes in a variety of ways. British scientists said civil partnerships for gay and lesbian couples were likely to offer similar advantages.

"Marriage confers health benefits on men and women and similar benefits could arise from same-sex civil unions," said Professor Michael King, of London's Royal Free and University College Medical School, in a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Australia and Canada already give same-sex couples the rights traditionally offered to married couples.

Britain introduced civil partnerships for gay and lesbian couples late last year.

Elton John and his partner David Furnish made use of the new legislation, which creates partnerships which are not technically marriages but confer similar benefits.

"It looks like both men and women benefit from (traditional) marriage," King said in an interview.

"These are not effects just on happiness or well-being. They seem to be important in terms of cardiovascular disease and other issues."

Civil unions probably reduce discrimination against gay and lesbian couples and make their relationships more stable.

"It may be that recognition and support of relationships like that through taxation ... lead to people's lifestyle being different," he said.

"If it leads to gay peoples' relationships being more stable because families recognized them and there was a social framework of recognition, that might mean less exchange of partners, less sexual risk, less drinking, less of the sorts of problems that gay men and lesbians sometimes get into."

Civil unions probably also increase support for gay and lesbian partnerships among families and in society at large, allowing couples to resolve any problems that arise in their relationships more easily.

"Social inclusion is a very big thing because if partnerships lead to recognition ... then that stops a lot of unhealthy habits that occur and it also stops a lot of psychological issues," King said.

"There is very good evidence now that gay men and lesbians are much more vulnerable to deliberate self-harm, to suicide attempts or to depression and other psychiatric problems."

Access to health care would also improve, according to the report which was co-written by Annie Bartlett from St George's Hospital Medical School in London.

Something to throw in the face of homophobic fuckers who cite lower life expectancy among gays and lesbians.

The Guid · Post by **The Guid** » 2006-02-15 10:34am

I wouldn't recommend it, for this reason:

There is very good evidence now that gay men and lesbians are much more vulnerable to deliberate self-harm, to suicide attempts or to depression and other psychiatric problems."

Believe me, that will be taken out of context and blown out of proportion.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2006-02-15 11:53am

The Guid wrote:I wouldn't recommend it, for this reason:

There is very good evidence now that gay men and lesbians are much more vulnerable to deliberate self-harm, to suicide attempts or to depression and other psychiatric problems."
Believe me, that will be taken out of context and blown out of proportion.

Considering all the shit that they get from straight, especially religious straight individuals about being a product of sin and plenty of other euphemisms, those symptoms are hardly surprising at all.

The Guid · Post by **The Guid** » 2006-02-15 12:23pm

I totally agree, and it was a point I have debated over on many occasions however it would not be an article I would refer to for the reason stated above.

wolveraptor · Post by **wolveraptor** » 2006-02-15 02:20pm

A better thing to do would be to cite societies which held no discrimination against gays and lesbians, like the Greeks. Unfortunately, the information is rather limited, since no one bothered to conduct sociological studies during those periods.