EQUALITY

Study: Teen Suicide Rates Down After Gay Marriage Legalization

Suicide rates dropped 14% among LGBT teens.

Teen suicides, particularly among LGBT teenagers, have decreased following the legalization of gay marriage, a new study finds. The study, published by the American Medical Association, examined attempted suicide rates in teenagers from 1999 to 2015, when the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage nationwide. In the 32 states that enacted marriage equality before the 2015 ruling, teen suicides saw a sharp decline, with attempted suicides down seven percent among all students and 14 percent among LGBT students. States without marriage equality saw no change in suicide rate. Researchers believe the change might be due to a decrease in bullying, or a more optimistic outlook for LGBT teens.