As Same Sex Marriage Numbers Go Up, Suicide Numbers Go Down

Equal rights make the world better: the legalization of gay marriage in Sweden and Denmark has led to a significant decline in suicide rates among homosexuals in the two countries.

Denmark was the first country to in the world to legalize same-sex civil unions in 1989, followed by Sweden six years later. The two nations are considered global leaders for LGBTQ+ rights, with Sweden legalizing gay marriage in 2009, and Denmark in 2012.

“Being married is protective against suicide,” says Annette Erlangsen of the Danish Research Institute for Suicide Prevention and lead author of the study. “Legalising same-sex marriage and other supportive legislative measures – they might actually reduce stigma around sexual minorities.”