Divorce rate of gay men

It turns out that women entering matrimony with other women experience nearly double the divorce rate compared to gay men. Looking at the broader picture, about fourteen point four percent of same-sex marriages and formally recognized civil partnerships in both England and Wales have reached their end via divorce. When focusing specifically on men, the divorce rate accounts for eleven percent, whereas women face a rate of eighteen percent.

Specifically regarding same-sex marriage, which has only existed since the year of two thousand fourteen, the divorce rates present an even sharper disparity: a mere five percent of male same-sex marriages have concluded in divorce, contrasted with ten percent of female same-sex marriages concluding in the same manner. Concerning civil partnerships, the dissolution rates are recorded at sixteen percent and twenty-nine percent, accordingly. Until the conclusion of two thousand twenty, more male pairs had participated in civil partnerships in contrast to female couples (amounting to thirty-seven thousand nine hundred and ninety and thirty thousand nine hundred and thirty-three, respectively); conversely, a greater number of women proceeded with marriages (eighteen thousand one hundred and eighty male couples against twenty-three thousand five hundred and seventy-eight female couples). Consequently, it stands out that a significantly larger quantity of female pairings have already brought their marriages or civil partnerships to a close in comparison to male pairings.

This doesn't represent a sudden surge. Examining the data leading up to two thousand fifteen (encompassing the first ten years following the formalization of same-sex unions) or focusing solely on the statistics predating the conclusion of two thousand thirteen, before equal marriage became an option, for each male pair legally concluding their union, approximately one point sixty-three to one point seventy-six female couples were doing the same. The government has released statistical information illustrating the yearly civil partnership dissolutions in proportion to each one thousand civil partner pairings, revealing comparable disparities within the male/female proportions.

As the data consistently demonstrates a similar trend across the passing years, this cannot simply be written off as mere coincidence. An underlying factor has to exist, impacting the ways in which gay couples handle the structure of their relationships, in contrast to how lesbian couples do so. Could it potentially be that gay couples demonstrate an openness toward non-monogamy, which permits intimate relations external to the primary bond and therefore doesn't present sufficient grounds for ending the relationship? Might it be providing insight into the general attitude women hold towards relationships? It would indeed be fascinating for academics to delve into a detailed analysis of this phenomenon.

Regrettably, the statistics do not facilitate direct comparison between same-sex and opposite-sex unions, primarily due to the fact that both same-sex civil partnerships and, more recently, marriages, have merely been present for a comparatively limited duration. We are unable to simply presume that all same-sex pairings have maintained their relationship for several decades leading up to officially formalizing it; equally, we cannot dismiss such a possibility. Within marriages, the matter is complicated by the potential of individuals having initially married in a foreign land and subsequently seeking a divorce locally, particularly pertaining to nations experiencing significant immigration to the UK. Eastern Europe, alongside both India and China, represent the predominant examples. Within the context of same-sex unions, a reduced degree of one-directional migration likely occurs considering the leading countries from where immigration originates do not recognize same-sex marriage or documented partnerships.

It is likewise intriguing to note that subsequent to an early wave of civil partnership establishments recorded in two thousand six (numbering at fourteen thousand nine hundred and forty-three), the figures witnessed a decline to approximately six thousand yearly up until the introduction of equal marriage near the end of two thousand fourteen, with the current figures hovering around one thousand or below annually. Simultaneously, the number of same-sex marriages celebrated per year in both England and Wales approximates seven thousand. Understandably, the numbers diminished notably during the throes of the pandemic, as limitations were imposed on weddings when lockdown protocols were enacted. This clarifies that civil partnership failed to fulfill the genuine aspirations of lesbians and gay men, representing merely a symbolic "marriage-lite" option that the administration put forth during two thousand four as something of a conciliatory gesture aimed toward the LGBT+ society. Beginning in the year of two thousand nineteen, heterosexual couples gained eligibility to register civil partnerships, and while numbers remain low compared to marriages, they greatly eclipse those of same-sex couples (depicted in two thousand twenty-one figures of five thousand six hundred and ninety-two compared against one thousand and thirty-nine).

The figures relating to both marriage and civil partnership encompass data until the conclusion of two thousand twenty, while divorce and civil partnership dissolution figures account for the period up to the end of two thousand twenty-one. This arises due to the prohibition against pursuing divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership within the first year. This excludes a limited quantity of nullity decrees (amounting to a mere thirteen total).

The statistics presented are sourced from marriage, civil partnership, divorce, and civil partnership dissolution statistical releases publicly accessible through the Office for National Statistics internet site. These figures omit pairings whose relationships concluded as a consequence of the passing of one partner, those which have been dissolved elsewhere whether within the UK or internationally, and any partners who were either married or entered into partnership in a separate territory and then divorced or dissolved their civil partnership throughout England and Wales. Moreover, we have yet to acquire the conversion statistics concerning transitions from civil partnerships into marriages for two thousand twenty-one; nonetheless, this figure is poised to be negligible in that only two hundred and thirty-eight total took place during two thousand twenty (comprising one hundred and forty-six male pairs in conjunction with ninety-two female pairs).

Posted in DivorceGay & Lesbian | Tagged DivorceGayLesbiansStatistics

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Alternative Family Law is a legal information website on English family law and not a law firm.

Andrea is a consultant at Josiah-Lake Gardiner Solicitors.

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