Evidence that more homophobic regions are linked to gay people dying 12 years earlier

[Jingthing]

This shouldn't really be surprising.

Humans are social animals.

Gay civil rights is about much more than marriage equality. It can be about LIFE itself.

Anti-gay communities linked to shorter lives: study

...
The difference translates into a shortened life expectancy of about 12 years in high-stigma communities, according to the researchers.

Heart disease, suicides, murders and violence appeared to be responsible for the shortened life expectancy.

"These are the specific causes of death that are elevated among sexual minorities living in high-prejudice communities, and they provide information on potential mechanisms or explanations for why sexual minorities living in these communities had increased risk of mortality," Hatzenbuehler said.

For example, he and his colleagues write that one possibility is that experiencing discrimination, prejudice and being marginalized creates stress. That may be an indirect way that stigma contributes to early deaths.

HIV, AIDS and behaviors such as smoking and drinking did not appear to be behind the shorter life expectancies.
...

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/02/24/us-anti-gay-communities-shorter-lives-idUKBREA1N1EV20140224?feedType=RSS

Edited May 5, 2014 by Jingthing

[NeverSure]

JT, You can't get there with civil rights laws such as gay marriage. You might live in a country that has strong gay civil rights laws, but if your community doesn't agree with it, and especially if the people around you don't, you'll still have that stress.

It's how you're perceived and treated by those immediately around you that will affect your stress levels, regardless of how many laws are passed.

[Jingthing]

I think you misunderstood my reference to marriage equality.

This topic isn't about marriage equality.

It's about communities with high levels of anti-gay sentiment and the impact on the lives of the group that is the target of that intolerance.

Edited May 5, 2014 by Jingthing

[Scott]

Neversure, when you have a group that is protected by the laws, then they have recourse. When they do not have acceptance and no protection, they have little chance.

Growing up, there was a boy who went to the local Social Services Office because he was afraid he was gay. All records are supposed to confidential, but horror of horrors, they decide to call his family and the school. The word got out. He was badly beaten up, but those that did it were not arrested. They weren't even questioned.

A few years later he committed suicide.

The community may not have been very accepting, but the legal system could have been. He was a big, strapping farm boy and outwardly nothing gay about him. Had someone been held legally responsible to provide a child with protection he might be alive today. Those that didn't were:

The government run social service's -- which violated his right to privacy, and did not act to prevent a child in danger.

The local law enforcement -- who didn't even make a remedial effort to investigate a violent crime (which went on to be repeated).

The education system--which failed to provide an environment that was safe and conducive to education (his first beating happened at school and on school property).

The community may not have been accepting, but the active persecution of another person has to be prevented by a government. A few people held accountable for the mistreatment of a child may have prevented a life from being destroyed.

Please remember this was a 13 year old child.

[raybal5]

Yes. Stress over a long period will do that to a person. Regardless if it is due to homophobia or any other reason which goes to the core of who a person is.

[onthemoon]

Yes. Stress over a long period will do that to a person. Regardless if it is due to homophobia or any other reason which goes to the core of who a person is.

I would agree with this. Homophobia is stressful for gay people. Antisemitism is stressful for Jews and racism is stressful for people of the race discriminated against.