title: Marriage equality is a mental health issue.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aim to review marriage equality in New Zealand and Australia and critically evaluate the health impact of such a legal change.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a review of the literature using the search terms "marriage equality", "same sex marriage" and "gay marriage" in combination with "health", "wellbeing", "psych*", "mental illness" and "distress". This search included medical literature, legal literature and mass media.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This review indicates that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people disproportionately face negative health stressors and negative health events compared with the general population and this is related to the stress of being a stigmatised minority group. The evidence strongly supports the proposition that marriage equality is related to improved health outcomes. A diverse range of professional health groups advocate for the legislative progression to marriage equality. The authors found no evidence that marriage equality harms opposite-sex marriage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Marriage equality is still lacking in Australia and as a positive correlate of health should be strongly supported.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatrist, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia warren.kealybateman@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Warren
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kealy-Bateman
authors.affiliation: Medical student, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pryor
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D006716:Homosexuality; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D008393:Marriage; D009520:New Zealand
keywords: equality; legislation; marriage; same sex