A study from the UK Office of National Statistics reveals that civil partnerships between gay couples are dissolved at about half the rate of heterosexual marriages. “Homosexual couples that joined in 2005 were significantly less likely to have filed for dissolution four years later than heterosexual couples were to have filed for divorce: 2.5% compared to 5.5%.” Additionally, gay-male couples were less likely to split than lesbian pairs. [The Daily Beast]
Speaking of Merry old England, two male flamingos at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in Gloucestershire are still going strong after five years. “They only have eyes for each other—I have never seen two male flamingos fall for each other before, although homosexuality is not uncommon in the animal kingdom,” says zookeeper Nigel Jarrett. [Pink News UK]
And speaking of kids, proud papas Jarrod Scarborough and Les Sewell, who publicized their plan to challenge President Obama to sign a federal anti-discrimination bill at yesterday’s White House Easter egg roll, never got the chance to talk to the Commander in Chief at the event, which drew some 30,000 kids and parents. But they were happy the issue got so much media attention. “Given our economy, this is an absolute wonderful chance to get a little bit of information out about this executive order and hopefully get some education and a little push to get it signed,” said Scarborough. [Edge on the Net]
In L.A.’s Silver Lake neighborhood, a set of stairs at the bottom of Cove Avenue was renamed The Mattachine Steps, in honor of the pioneering gay-rights group the Mattachine Society, which held its first meeting at a house there in 1950. The renaming ceremony took place Saturday, April 7, when Mattachine founder Harry Hay would have turned 100 years old. [Patch.com]
Photo: Valdiney Pimenta, Harry Hay
Kevin
I wonder if the lower number of divorces has anything to do with the fact that many of those gay couples had already been in long-term, monogamous relationships for years before marriage became legal for them. That is, while they were only 4 years into their marriages, many would have been decades further into their relationships than comparable heterosexual couples. I’d imagine the numbers will get a lot closer in a decade or two.
Philip
I’d be curious to know how many people under 40 even know about the Mattachine Society……
Ben
Perhaps since we’ve fought so much for it, we actually value it and appreciate it more…yes? no?
Henry Holland
“I’d be curious to know how many people under 40 even know about the Mattachine Society……”
40? How about people over 52? 67? 73? I’m 52 and I refuse to bag on gays and lesbians younger than me for not knowing their history when almost all the older guys I met when I came out didn’t know jack about it much beyond Stonewall either and they had lived through/were living that history. I love history, I spent many a Saturday at the One Institute here in Los Angeles going through their archive, but the people interested in history to that extent aren’t very common.
http://www.onearchives.org/
:x
Did they count how many stayed together after cheating? We did divorce less according to the study, but we’re more likely to accept cheating, some people i know have no problem bringing a third into the bed. Before anyone gets excited, we should see how many of the couples were actually monogamous.
Andy
@Philip: 24. Know about it. Shame on anyone of any age who doesn’t know gay history.
@Kevin: Exactly. A huge number of the gay people getting married now have been waiting for legalization so they can protect their shared property/ten-year-old dog they bought as a puppy/three kids/whatever. Nothing to do with gay people being less prone to divorce.
13Zeroither
@Philip I’ve heard of the Mattachine Society get mentioned from the book, Stonewall.