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Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Health

A Health Profile of Massachusetts Adults by Sexual Orientation Identity: Results from the 2001-2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Surveys

Prepared by K.J. Conron, ScD1, MPH, M.J. Mimiaga2,3, ScD, MPH, S.J. Landers4,5, JD, MCP
for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health

SUMMARY

A growing body of research indicates that health disparities exist between
gay/lesbian/bisexuals and heterosexuals. For the first time, population-based estimates
of sexual orientation differences in adult health are available in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. This report used data collected for the 2001-2006 Massachusetts
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys to compare self-reported health
behavior and status among (n=38,910) heterosexual/straight, gay/lesbian/homosexual,
and bisexual adults ages 18-64. Most (97.1%) self-identified as heterosexual or straight,
while 1.9% identified as gay, lesbian or homosexual, and 1.0% as bisexual.
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By Christopher Ramos, Naomi G. Goldberg, and M.V. Lee Badgett
May 2009

May 17th, 2009 marks the 5th year of marriage equality in the state of Massachusetts. To mark this anniversary, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health conducted the largest survey to date of married same-sex couples, the Health and Marriage Equality in Massachusetts (HMEM) survey. During the past year, four other states have extended marriage to same-sex couples and several other states are considering marriage legislation. The HMEM data allows us to address important questions that arise as other states consider whether to extend marriage to same-sex couples. The data provides answers to several key questions: Who is getting married? Why are same-sex couples getting married? What impact has marriage had on same-sex relationships? And, what impact has marriage had on the children of same-sex couples?

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Five years after the first marriage licenses were issued to same-sex couples in Massachusetts, a large majority of the state’s voters believe that marriage equality has been good for the state. A recent statewide poll of voters in Massachusetts found that support for marriage equality has increased 10 percentage points since 2005. Moreover, 70 percent of voters believe that married gay and lesbian couples in Massachusetts should have equal access to protections and benefits provided to other married couples by the federal government, such as Social Security survivor benefits.

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Please note: This executive summary is republished from “Marriage Equality and the Creative Class” by Gary J. Gates from The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law

Marriage equality and the Creative Class
by Gary J. Gates
Executive summary

In the debate over extending marriage to same-sex couples, there have been several arguments about the positive economic impacts for states that do so. One argument is that marriage will attract some same-sex couples to move to a state, in particular young, mobile, and highly educated individuals—members of what has been called the creative class—who are vital to economic development in a post-industrial economy. Massachusetts, with five years of experience in extending marriage to same-sex couples, provides the first opportunity in the United States to empirically assess this argument.

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“One of the most dominant myths used by forces opposed to marriage equality is that allowing same-sex couples to marry would somehow negatively affect religious institutions or apply restrictions to their freedom to worship as they choose.

Although this myth is patently false, that has not stopped some opponents from using the claim to lead people to believe their religious freedom is in danger.

In states like California, opponents of marriage equality have asserted that passing such a law would do everything from requiring churches to marry same-sex couples against their will to subjecting them to a loss of their tax-exempt status if the institution or congregation chooses not to marry same-sex couples. Whether these objections are motivated by sincere concern, a desire to fear-monger or a decision to engage in willful misinformation is hard to say.
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