[p?c1=2&c2=11464276&cv=2.0&cj=1] [logo.png] Search this site: Search_________ Search * Sections * Most Popular * Politics * World * A&E * Op-Ed * Media * Religion * Families * Transgender * Bisexuality * Sports * Comedy * Geek * Business * Women * Travel * Health * Print Issue * Video * Federal Judge Strikes Down Alabama Marriage Ban Marriage Equality BREAKING: Federal Judge Strikes Down Alabama Marriage Ban * California Judges Banned From Joining Boy Scouts, Other Antigay Youth Groups Boy Scouts of America California Judges Barred From Joining Boy Scouts * Gallery of Geek: J. Bone Geek Gallery of Geek: J. Bone * Hot Sheet: January 23 Hot Sheet Hot Sheet: Ellen Wheels * What LGBT Policy Challenges Are on Deck for 2015? Politics What LGBT Policy Challenges Are on Deck for 2015? * Patrick Stewart: 'Supporting Gay Rights Is Natural' film Patrick Stewart: 'Supporting Gay Rights Is Natural' Politics Marriage Equality Analysis: Nope, Same-Sex Marriage Doesn't Dissuade Straight People from Getting Married An analysis of European countries and American states proves that marriage equality has no effect on the rate of opposite-sex marriages. BY Jorge Rodriguez-Jimenez October 21 2014 12:30 PM ET [icon-print.jpg] [icon-email.jpg] If there was really any question, a fact checker has finally settled it for Nevadans: same-sex marriage does not deter different-sex couples from marrying. A recent analysis by Fact Checker at the Reno Gazette-Journal looked into the marriage rate of countries abroad that have legalized same-sex marriage and compared the marriage rate over time. The findings show that same-sex marriage has not had any impact on the rate of different-sex marriages. So Nevada need not be worried about marriage equality recently coming to the state. The ongoing decline in different-sex marriages is actually a trend started decades before same-sex marriage became an issue. Fact Checker looked at Eurostat data and compared marriage rates in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands over the decades. Although they have differing laws about marriage, all three countries had the same trend, according to Fact Checker, and showed declines in marriages since the 1970s. In Germany (where a form of civil unions are legal), the marriage rate fell 49.5 percent. In the Netherlands (with full marriage equality), it fell 45.5 percent. And in Italy, a country that rejects same-sex marriages, the rate fell 54.5 percent. The same lack of pattern is found when looking at states in the U.S. The Williams Institute, which regularly conducts this type of statistical analysis about LGBT issues, noted three actual studies that have identified the lack of any correlation between marriage rates. Here they are: * "The Effect of Same-Sex Marriage Laws on Different-Sex Marriage: Evidence From the Netherlands," Demography, 2014 * "Same-Sex Marriage and Negative Externalities," Social Science Quarterly, 2009 * White Paper, Council on Contemporary Families, 2004 By the way, the United States now has 32 states where same-sex marriage is legal. Tags: Marriage Equality, Media AddThis more in Marriage Equality * Federal Judge Strikes Down Alabama Marriage Ban BREAKING: Federal Judge Strikes Down Alabama Marriage Ban * I'll Take 'Marriage Equality' for $800, Alex I'll Take 'Marriage Equality' for $800, Alex * Four Anti-LGBT Bills Aim to Roll Back Progress in Oklahoma Four Anti-LGBT Bills Aim to Roll Back Progress in Oklahoma * WATCH: Obama Hopes Supreme Court Makes 'Right Decision' on Marriage Equality WATCH: Obama Hopes SCOTUS 'Comes to the Right Decision' READER COMMENTS () most popular * Artist Spotlight: Carlos Barahona Possollo Artist Spotlight: Carlos Barahona Possollo * Patrick Stewart: 'Supporting Gay Rights Is Natural' Patrick Stewart: 'Supporting Gay Rights Is Natural' * Gallery of Geek: J. Bone Gallery of Geek: J. Bone * WATCH: George Takei Hosts the Hilarious My Husband's Not Straight WATCH: George Takei Hosts the Hilarious My Husband's Not Straight * #TBT: They Died in the Closet #TBT: They Died in the Closet * Madonna's 12 Studio Albums Ranked Madonna's 12 Studio Albums Ranked FOLLOW US Facebook Twitter RSS Sign Up For Advocate Email Updates TWITTER Tweets from @TheAdvocateMag/advocate-staff * Daily News Updates * Staff * Contact * Submissions * Career Opportunities * Subscribe * Subscriber Services * Visit our Websites * Gay.net * Gay.com * Out.com * Advocate.com * HereTV.com * OutTraveler.com * SheWired.com * HIVPLUSMag.com * Privacy Policy * User Agreement * Community Guidelines * Legal Notice * Advertise With Us (c) 2015, Here Media Inc. All Rights Reserved Quantcast