Gay Marriage: States That Allow Same-Sex Unions Have Lower Divorce Rates

The Surprising Effect Same-Sex Marriage Has On Divorce Rates

Since the Defense of Marriage Act was found unconstitutional on Wednesday, talk of same-sex marriage -- and divorce -- has dominated the news. NBC 5 in Chicago took a look at recent census data and found that states that legally allow gay marriage actually have lower divorce rates than states that only allow heterosexual unions.

In states where same-sex marriages are legally recognized, the divorce rate is 20 percent lower than in states that only allow marriages between a man and a woman. For example, Massachusetts, which was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage (in 2004), also has the lowest divorce rate in the country.

Click over to NBC 5 Chicago for more and to see divorce rates for each state.

Keep in touch! Check out HuffPost Divorce on Facebook and Twitter.

Before You Go

SCOTUS Decisions On Prop 8, Defense Of Marriage Act

Popular in the Community

Close

HuffPost Shopping’s Best Finds

MORE IN LIFE