title: Same-Sex Couples' Decisions and Experiences of Marriage in the Context of Minority Stress: Interviews From a Population-Based Longitudinal Study.
abstract: In the emerging context of marriage equality, it is important to explore the reasons for and experience of marriage for long-term same-sex couples, including the role of minority stress. In Wave 3 of the population-based, longitudinal CUPPLES Study we interviewed 21 long-term same-sex couples (14 female, 7 male) who resided in 12 different states and who were legally married. Couple members ranged in age from 37 to 84 and reported being together as a couple from 15 to 41 years. Seven couples lived in states that did not recognize their marriage at the time of the interview. Legal protection and social validation emerged as the two primary domains that captured couples' lived experiences of marriage. Minority stress experiences emerged in the narratives in the context of couples' long-term commitment, the availability of civil marriage, and couples' participation in activist efforts on behalf of marriage equality for themselves and others.
authors.affiliation: a Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology , University of Kentucky , Lexington , Kentucky , USA.
authors.forename: Sharon S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Rostosky
authors.affiliation: b Department of Political Science and Department of Gender and Women's Studies , University of Kentucky , Lexington , Kentucky , USA.
authors.forename: Ellen D B
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Riggle
authors.affiliation: c Women's Studies Department , San Diego State University and Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law , San Diego , California , USA.
authors.forename: Esther D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Rothblum
authors.affiliation: d Pacific Graduate School of Psychology , Palo Alto University , Palo Alto , California , USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Balsam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003657:Decision Making; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D033262:Narration; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D012945:Social Values; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Gay male couples; legal protection; lesbian couples; marriage; minority stress; same-sex couple relationships; same-sex couples; same-sex marriage