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31-03-2025

Perceived Impact of Marriage and Concerns About the Future of Marriage Equality: A Mixed-Methods Study of LGBTQ+ Married Individuals in the United States

Authors: Abbie E. Goldberg, JuliAnna Z. Smith

Published in: Sexuality Research and Social Policy

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Abstract

This article presents a mixed-methods study that examines the perceived impact of marriage equality on LGBTQ+ individuals in the United States. It explores how marriage has influenced personal and relational well-being, as well as future planning, among a diverse group of 484 married LGBTQ+ Americans. The study reveals that marriage has significantly enhanced the sense of safety, security, and life satisfaction for many participants, while also providing legal and financial protections. However, the current sociopolitical climate, marked by intensifying anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and the potential threat to federal marriage equality, has raised concerns and prompted some individuals to consider relocation. The article delves into the complex interplay between legal recognition, social acceptance, and the evolving landscape of LGBTQ+ rights, offering a detailed analysis of the benefits and challenges faced by married LGBTQ+ individuals. It also highlights the protective actions taken by some participants in response to the uncertain legal environment, underscoring the resilience and adaptability of the LGBTQ+ community in the face of adversity.

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Abstract

Introduction

The year 2024 marked the 20th anniversary of legal marriage for same-sex couples in the USA, which began in Massachusetts in 2004, and it has been almost a decade since Obergefell v. Hodges established marriage equality at the federal level. Several decades of research have established numerous positive impacts of marriage equality on LGBTQ + people’s lives. Legislative efforts to restrict the rights of LGBTQ + Americans over the past several years in particular have fostered concerns related to future state and federal protections—including federal marriage equality.

Methods

Using data from 484 married LGBTQ + Americans (78% cisgender, 22% trans/nonbinary; 51% White, 49% of color) collected in Fall/Winter 2023–2024, this study aims to better understand the impact of marriage equality on their lives. Participants completed an online survey with closed and open-ended questions. Using descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis of open-ended responses, we explore the perceived impact of marriage equality on their lives, concerns about a potential legal challenge to marriage equality, and desire to move. Logistic regression models examine predictors of concerns about a potential legal challenge to marriage equality and desire to move out of the state or country.

Results

Marriage was perceived by participants as impacting their well-being, life satisfaction, and relationships in largely positive ways, and many participants saw marriage as impacting key life decisions such as where to live and financial planning. Federal marriage equality was important to many participants insomuch as it enabled security in terms of where to live and travel. Over three-quarters of participants were concerned about a potential legal challenge to Obergefell. Couples in which one or both partners were trans were more likely to be concerned about a challenge to federal marriage equality than cis men couples or cis women couples, and less educated participants were more likely to be concerned than more educated participants. More than one-quarter of participants wanted to move out of their state, and more than a quarter of participants wanted to move out of the country. Participants in states with poorer LGBTQ + climates, participants who reported that they or their partners had disabilities, and older participants were more likely to want to move out of their state. Participants who were concerned about a legal challenge to Obergefell were more likely than those who were not concerned to want to move out of the USA.

Conclusions and Policy Implications

Marriage equality has had profound impacts on LGBTQ + Americans’ lives, and even the threat of its potential loss is having serious disruptions on their individual, relational, and family well-being.

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Title: Perceived Impact of Marriage and Concerns About the Future of Marriage Equality: A Mixed-Methods Study of LGBTQ+ Married Individuals in the United States
Authors: Abbie E. Goldberg
JuliAnna Z. Smith
Publication date: 31-03-2025
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Sexuality Research and Social Policy
Print ISSN: 1868-9884
Electronic ISSN: 1553-6610
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-025-01122-7

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