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Effects of Access to Legal Same‐Sex Marriage on Marriage and Health

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  • Christopher S. Carpenter
  • Samuel T. Eppink
  • Gilbert Gonzales
  • Tara McKay

Abstract

We provide the first comprehensive evidence on the effects of access to legal same‐sex marriage (SSM) on marriage and adult health using the full rollout of marriage equality across the United States. Using data from the CDC BRFSS from 2000 to 2017, we relate changes in outcomes for individuals in same‐sex households (SSH) coincident with adoption of legal SSM in two‐way fixed effects models. A substantial share of these households includes gay and lesbian couples. For men in SSH, we find robust evidence that access to legal SSM significantly increased marriage take‐up, health insurance coverage, access to care, and healthcare utilization. Results for women in SSH are inconclusive apart from a clear increase in marriage take‐up. Our results provide the first evidence that legal access to SSM significantly improved health for adult gay men.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher S. Carpenter & Samuel T. Eppink & Gilbert Gonzales & Tara McKay, 2021. "Effects of Access to Legal Same‐Sex Marriage on Marriage and Health," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(2), pages 376-411, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jpamgt:v:40:y:2021:i:2:p:376-411
    DOI: 10.1002/pam.22286
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    Cited by:

    1. Dimitrios Nikolaou, 2023. "Effects of marriage equality legislation on sexual health of the US population," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(1), pages 107-133, January.
    2. Meyerhoefer, Chad D. & Xue, Bingjin & Poznańska, Anna, 2025. "Implications of the decline in LGBT rights for population mental health: Evidence from Polish “LGBT-free zones”," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    3. M. V. Lee Badgett & Christopher S. Carpenter & Maxine J. Lee & Dario Sansone, 2025. "A review of the effects of legal access to same‐sex marriage," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(1), pages 266-294, January.
    4. Carpenter, Christopher S. & Sansone, Dario, 2021. "Cigarette taxes and smoking among sexual minority adults," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    5. Lee A. Brady & Christopher A. Julian & Wendy D. Manning, 2025. "Variation Between LGBT Estimates and State Policy Context," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 44(1), pages 1-12, February.
    6. Davis, Lewis, 2025. "Cultural foundations of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
    7. van der Star, Arjan, 2024. "The socioecology of sexual minority stigma: Advancing theory on stigma-based mechanisms underlying sexual orientation-based disparities in health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 363(C).
    8. Olga Alonso-Villar & Coral del Río, 2024. "Poverty among same-sex couple families in the United States: Is there a premium for married couples?," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 22(2), pages 495-517, June.
    9. Clara E. Piano & Rachael Behr & Kacey Reeves West, 2024. "The supply and demand of marital contracts: the case of same-sex marriage," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 198(3), pages 237-268, March.
    10. Cevat Giray Aksoy & Christopher S. Carpenter & Ralph De Haas & Mathias Dolls & Lisa Windsteiger, 2023. "Reducing Sexual Orientation Discrimination: Experimental Evidence from Basic Information Treatments," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(1), pages 35-59, January.
    11. Shuai Chen & Jan C. van Ours, 2022. "Mental health effects of same‐sex marriage legalization," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(1), pages 42-56, January.

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