An upcoming article in the Journal of Counseling Psychology, published by APA, looks at the consequences of the gay marriage bans on the mental health status of LGBT citizens. In my opinion, the real goal behind these bans has always been to stigmatize gays and do as much emotional and psychological damage to gays as possible. To the supporters of these bans, depression and suicide in the LGBT community is a good thing and they'd be more than happy if we all hung ourselves or fatally over dosed. Some may think me too harsh, but I don't believe so. These people truly view us as less than human and something to be eradicated. and the leaders of our enemies are NOT nice people regardless of whatever insincere lip service they put out to the contrary. Here are some highlights on the APA findings from 365gay.com:*
Amendments that restrict civil marriage rights of same-sex couples – such as Proposition 8 that recently passed in California – have led to higher levels of stress and anxiety among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adults, as well as among their families of origin, according to several new studies the American Psychological Association said Wednesday.
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The survey results documented increased minority stress, as well as more general psychological distress, among LGB individuals following the passage of a marriage amendment in 2006, compared to LGB people in states without an amendment on the 2006 ballot. The researchers, led by Sharon Scales Rostosky, Ph.D., at the University of Kentucky, found that those participants living in states that passed a measure in 2006 reported increased exposure to negative media messages and negative conversations.
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“And this stress is not due to other pre-existing conditions or factors; it is a direct result of the negative images and messages associated with the ballot campaign and the passage of the amendment.”
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Participants reported feeling not just alienated from their communities, but fearful that they would lose their children, that they would become victims of anti-gay violence or that they would need to move to a more accepting community. Some of these anxieties were mitigated by social support.
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Brent Mallinckrodt, Ph.D., editor of the Journal of Counseling Psychology, said the three articles provide empirical evidence of the harmful psychological and emotional effects of such measures.
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I suspect that Christianist leaders who read this article - a big if, I know - they will likely be smiling to themselves. It's sick, I know, but also probably very true. Again, these folks are not nice people.
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