Psychological Distress, Political Activism Associated With "Marriage Amendments"

Newswise — When marriage amendments are on the ballot, lesbian, gay and bisexual people experience acute psychological stress and downturns in general well-being; they also become more politically active. These findings, particularly pertinent in the wake of the passage of California's Proposition 8 are contained in two articles to be published by University of Kentucky researchers. Sharon Rostosky and Ellen Riggle of UK (with Sharon Horne from the University of Memphis) used surveys to study the emotions of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adults following the 2006 general election, during which eight states had "marriage amendments" on the ballot. Following the November 2006 election, participants living in states that passed a marriage amendment (an amendment defining marriage to exclude same-sex couples from marriage rights) reported significantly more minority stress stemming from exposure to negative media messages and negative conversations, and more general distress, including more depressive symptoms, than did participants living in states that did not vote on a marriage amendment in 2006.

" The mere fact of these amendments make me sad, annoyed, and outraged, and the inanities spewed in the public debates have alternately made me laugh, cry and scream," said to one survey respondent. These findings indicate that passage of marriage amendments creates an environment associated with negative psychological outcomes for LGB individuals. The article by Rostosky, Riggle and Horne, appears in the January issue of the American Psychological Association Journal of Counseling Psychology.

Riggle, Rostosky and Horne will also publish, in the March 2009 issue of Sexuality Research and Social Policy, research indicating that negative messages targeted toward LGB individuals become more frequent during state elections involving marriage amendments. In the article "Marriage Amendments and Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Citizen in the 2006 Election," the authors note that LGB persons report more frequent exposure to negative messages about lesbian and gay issues, along with associated higher levels of reported negative affect, stress and depressive symptoms. No previous research has empirically established LGB individuals' perceptions of exposure to negative messages surrounding marriage amendment campaigns. The findings indicate that while LGB individuals experience stress and depressive symptoms when marriage amendments are on the ballot, resulting in an acute negative impact on the well-being of such persons, having a marriage amendment on the ballot is also associated with increased political participation and voting by LGB citizens.

As stated by one survey participant, "The hateful debates, political campaigning, and spiritual abuse encountered is a drain on the soul and spirit. Yet, when I look at my friends and the amazing things we are all doing, I am inspired by our bravery, courage, and integrity to love and accept each other and ourselves. We fight for ourselves, for the right to have dignity and recognition as human beings."