Marriage equality

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Tags: centenary-edition, equity, psychology

A national survey conducted by UQ researchers has found that the majority of same-sex attracted Australians reported marriage to be their personal preference for relationship recognition.

UQ research shows same sex couples want to marry

The findings dispel the myth that most same-sex couples do not wish to marry or are content with de facto status, and form part of the larger Not So Private Lives survey.

The study is the first national survey to investigate same-sex attracted Australians’ preferences for various forms of relationship recognition since the introduction of de facto status for same-sex couples at a Federal level.

Findings showed that the majority (54.1 percent) of same-sex attracted participants selected marriage as their personal choice and close to 80 percent felt marriage should be an option for same-sex couples in Australia.

Researcher Sharon Dane, from UQ’s School of Psychology, said marriage was still the personal choice of the majority, irrespective of the current legal status of participants’ same-sex relationships.

“Importantly, the majority showing a personal preference for marriage was even more substantial among those currently in a state or municipal civil partnership or an overseas civil union,” Ms Dane said.

“This suggests that alternatives to marriage, such as civil unions, can be important for those who do not wish to marry but are clearly not a substitute for the many who do.”

By Melinda Kopanakis

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