Several studies in both the U.S., Sweden, and Denmark have revealed that marriage equality results in less suicides and suicidal tendencies. After the legalization of same-gender marriages countrywide in 2015, studies conducted in recent years have found that the rates of suicide among LGBTQ+ youth are dropping.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 10-24 year olds. Within this age group, LGBTQ+ individuals are more likely to attempt suicide. While it has not vanished entirely, the likelihood of an LGBTQ+ individual attempting suicide has lowered by 32% since 2015. Notably, in states where no change was made to the marriage equality laws—meaning that the right to marriage was exclusive to heterosexual couples—there was no change in the suicide rate among youth. Similarly, in Denmark and Sweden, suicide rates have fallen by 46% since 2012 and 2009, respectively, when marriage equality was legalized there.
When marriages between LGBTQ+ couples are recognized by the state, it can change the way that they are perceived, both in media and in real life. While it shouldn’t really matter to people what others do as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone, public perception is, unfortunately, an important factor in the safety and livelihood of LGBTQ+ individuals, more often than not. Lead author of the study Dr. Julia Raifman said in her 2017 paper, “This increased social support could translate into improved familial and peer acceptance of sexual minorities, which has been shown to be associated with improved mental health.”
The studies mentioned that there was no correlation between the laws regarding marriage changing and the rate of suicide attempts among teens and young adults, but they did mention the fact that laws that affect adults can change the perception of children. A positive change, such as the legalization of same-gender marriages, can lead to youth adopting a more optimistic outlook on the future. The right to marriage, being able to commit further to someone that you love, brings hope to a somewhat scary world to live in.
