Are lesbian couples disproportionately affected by divorce?

On Behalf of | Mar 30, 2022 | Family Law

Everyone has heard the much-touted statistic that half of all marriages end in divorce. What many do not delineate though is that this statistic (whether true or not) only relates to heterosexual, or opposite-sex marriages. Same-sex marriages have much lower divorce rates, but over time, their rates of divorce are moving up.

Same-sex divorces

As same-sex divorces increase, there appears to be a stark contrast between male-male divorces (gay divorce) and female-female divorces (lesbian divorce). While same-sex divorce rates are steadily moving up, there appears to be a larger percentage of lesbian divorces than gay divorces. In some studies, the numbers are extremely divergent, but the numbers are still much lower than opposite-sex divorce rates.

Marriage too fast often blamed

At least anecdotally, some blame a rush to marry after the legalization of same-sex marriage and divorce. In that momentous moment, with the weight of generations of LGBTQ denied the right to marry, many couples rushed to the alter. And, perhaps, some of those figuratively and literally rushed too fast. This may explain some of the rising divorce rates as these relationships have run their course.

Similar reasons

For our Dallas, Texas (and surrounding communities, like Dallas Collin, Denton and Rockwall Counties), readers, it should come as no surprise that many of the reasons cited by same-sex couples are the same as opposite-sex couples. Indeed, it seems that, once children are introduced, regardless of the gender makeup of the relationship, all parents have the same problems, which sometimes, led parents to divorce. Though, even for childless couples, the falling out of love or the failure of intimacy is still one of the largest issues that led to divorce.

 

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