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Many people stick to their religious views when it comes to opposing gay marriage and refuse to consider anything else in the ‘gay marriage debate’.
The reality of the matter is that many factors are at stake for gay, lesbian. And bisexual individuals living in states where there is a same-sex marriage ban as per reports from NPR on May 20.
A psychologist from Columbia University, researcher Mark Hatzenbuehler explains: “Lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals who lived in the states that banned same-sex marriage experienced a significant increase in psychiatric disorders.”
He goes on: “There was a 37 percent increase in mood disorders, a 42 percent increase in alcohol-use disorders, and — I think really strikingly — a 248 percent increase in generalized anxiety disorders.”
You might be asking yourself how these figures compare to the mental health of gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals in states where there is no same-sex marriage ban.
Hatzenbuehler reveals: “We showed the psychiatric disorders did not increase in lesbian, gay and bisexual populations in states that didn’t debate and vote on same-sex marriages. There were also no increases — or much smaller increases — among heterosexuals living in the states that passed same-sex marriage bans.”
In the end, people need to increase their awareness of the real issues at hand. Stability, in the emotional, financial, social sense are among the most important factors in the marriage equality movement.
Many are blinded by their religious takes on things instead of seeing what real people are experiencing, not just what the Bible says.
Gay, lesbian, and bisexual people are real people with real feelings.
As productive members of American society, having their intimate relationships recognized by the law that overturns a same-sex marriage ban is only a beginning.
Addressing the mental ramifications of years of damage from prejudice and discrimination over the years is the next logical step.
Sources: NPR
