REVIEW

What same sex civil partnerships may mean for health

Michael King¹, Annie Bartlett²

¹ Primary Care Psychiatry, Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College London, London, UK
² Department of Mental Health, St George’s Hospital Medical School, London, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor M King
Primary Care Psychiatry, Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College London, Hampstead Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK; m.king{at}medsch.ucl.ac.uk

A growing number of countries have introduced a form of marriage or civil partnership registration for same sex couples. Marriage confers health benefits on heterosexual men and women and similar benefits could arise from same sex civil unions. The authors argue that legal and social recognition of same sex relationships may reduce discrimination, increase the stability of same sex relationships, and lead to better physical and mental health for gay and lesbian people.

Keywords: homosexuality; civil partnership; marriage; health

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