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UPI
a day ago
- Politics
- UPI
Same-sex marriage ruling linked to mental health gains
Same-sex marriage supporters rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington in 2013. Legal marriage improved mental health for LGBTQ+ couples. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo June 19 (UPI) -- Marriage and the ability to start a family are human rights. Ten years ago, on June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the Obergefell v. Hodges case extended the right to marry to same-sex couples. With 7.6% of Americans identifying as LGBTQ+, this decision continues to have an impact beyond legal benefits. Marriage provides unique advantages - a reality we have come to know as psychology researchers who focus on couples. The right to marry allowed same-sex couples the opportunity to experience these advantages. Benefits of a healthy marriage Although evidence largely comes from different-sex couples, psychology research documents the numerous benefits healthy marriage confers on well-being. Married people experience more positive emotions. They also have many physical health advantages, such as being more likely to survive cancer or major surgery. Children of married couples seem to benefit as well. A healthy marriage brings benefits that are distinct even from what couples in long-term relationships experience. Those who are married have better psychological well-being, such as less depression and better physical health than people in nonmarital romantic relationships, even those who live with their partner. Not surprisingly, the benefits of being married do not extend to unhappy marriages. The effects of marriage on physical well-being, life satisfaction, depression and mental health more broadly depend on marital quality, and so do outcomes for children. What's so special about marriage? What makes a happy marriage different from a happy cohabiting, stable relationship when it comes to well-being? Social scientists don't know, but there are a few theories. The one with the most empirical support involves a concept from physics called inertia. Applied in relationship science, inertia describes the idea that a relationship will remain the same or continue moving along the same trajectory unless some outside force acts upon it. As relationships progress, they naturally gain momentum. Partners invest more into their relationship over time. They exchange gifts, meet each others' friends, and start staying at each others' homes. Eventually, a natural step in this progression is either cohabitation or marriage. Marriage is a milestone, marking a new stage in life. Deciding to get married is a long-term commitment that often takes years of planning. Cohabitation, on the other hand, is easy to slide into due to the forward trajectory of a relationship. Cohabitors tend to stay together less as an intentional choice but for convenience. The intentional lifelong commitment of marriage may explain why it offers more benefits than cohabitation. 10 years of same-sex marriage As more same-sex couples have married, are they seeing the same marriage benefits that other-sex couples always had? Research on the topic is only just beginning. Still, there is some preliminary evidence that they are. In a 2024 survey, respondents with same-sex spouses largely felt closer to their partner and more satisfied with life in general after getting married. Findings from one research study indicate that married same-sex couples see greater benefits to psychological well-being than do same-sex couples in registered domestic partnerships. Another study on same-sex relationships found that marriage was linked to greater happiness and fewer depression symptoms than cohabitation. As for children of same-sex parents, they do just as well as those with other-sex parents. There's not much data yet on the impact on kids of same-sex parents divorcing. Do marriage benefits differ for same-sex couples? The happiness of same- and other-sex relationships is largely determined by the same factors, but there are two key differences: gender composition of the couple and stress from discrimination. In other-sex relationships, women tend to fall into subordinate positions. Same-sex couples are free from traditional male-female gender dynamics, allowing more of a balance of power. For instance, they have a more even division of household chores, and partners have a more equal say when resolving conflicts. Greater equality may improve the quality of same-sex relationships. The other distinguishing feature of same-sex couples is that their relationships are negatively affected by discrimination, a known stressor. In research done mostly on different-sex couples, even support from a partner does not ameliorate the downstream effects of discrimination and - as is the case with other stressors - can make relationship problems seem worse. Societal disapproval may lead someone to internalize negative ideas about their own sexuality and relationship. In other words, buying into society's message that one's relationship is morally wrong harms their own mental health and consequently their relationship. Psychology researchers theorize that societal disapproval is a key factor standing in the way of same-sex couples experiencing the full benefits of marriage. More societal acceptance post-Obergefell As an increasing number of U.S. states, and eventually the federal government, legalized same-sex marriage, greater societal acceptance has followed. In 2025, 67% of LGBTQ+ adults agree that the country has become more accepting of same-sex couples due to the legalization of same-sex marriage. This trend is not unique to the U.S. Around the world, countries where same-sex marriage is legal tend to have a higher percentage of the population say they favor same-sex marriage. Although the causal direction is opaque, evidence from multiple countries indicates that same-sex marriage bans reinforce nonacceptance of LGBTQ+ people, while legal recognition fosters societal approval. Acceptance lowers stress for same-sex couples, allowing them to enjoy the benefits of marriage. Although societal acceptance in the United States has improved dramatically over the past couple of decades, it is important to note that 19% of Americans still strongly oppose same-sex marriage. Legalization was a major step, but it has by no means eliminated discrimination altogether. Alana L. Riso is a Ph.D. student in clinical psychology at Binghamton University, State University of New York and Matthew D. Johnson is a professor of psychology and director of clinical training, Binghamton University, State University of New York. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The views and opinions in this commentary are solely those of the author.
UPI
2 days ago
- Health
- UPI
FDA approves long-lasting HIV-prevention drug
1 of 2 | A man photographs a portion of the AIDS quilt during an HIV/AIDS rally on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in 2021. The Food and Drug Administration has said that it has approved a new drug that could prevent HIV infections with just two shots every year. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo June 18 (UPI) -- The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug that could prevent HIV infections with just two shots every year and possibly eradicate the disease. The drug's scientific name is lenacapavir and it will be marketed as Yeztugo, which requires one injection every six months to maintain its effectiveness in preventing HIV infections. Other drugs exist that also prevent HIV, but they require daily dosages in pill form and have not significantly affected the disease on a global level. "We're on the precipice of now being able to deliver the greatest prevention option we've had in 44 years of this epidemic," AVAC executive director Mitchell Warren told the New York Times. AVAC is an anti-HIV organization. He said recent funding cuts by the Trump administration will make it hard to distribute the drug globally. "It's as if that opportunity is being snatched from out of our hands by the policies of the last five months," Warren said. Gilead Sciences is producing the drug, which is the second long-lasting HIV prevention drug available. The other option is cabotegravir, which is sold under the brand name Apretude and requires an injection every two months. About 21,000 Americans use Apretude, while about 500,000 use daily oral medications to prevent HIV. Clinical trials showed most participants who received two shots of lenacapavir every year had nearly full protection against HIV. More than 39,000 people in the United States contracted HIV in 2023, which carries an estimated lifetime treatment cost of $1.1 million per patient, Gilead Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Daniel O'Day told the New York Times. Lenacapavir already is being prescribed to treat people with HIV infections that resist other medications and at an annual cost of $42,000 per patient, but most patients don't pay the full cost. Health insurance coverage and patient-assistance programs would cover the cost for most people using lenacapavir, according to Gilead. The cost for oral pills taken daily is just $1 per pill, while Apretude carries an annual cost of about $24,000. Proposed funding reductions for Medicaid and the President's Emergency Program for AIDs Relief, commonly called PEPFAR, might greatly reduce access to the drug, according to advocacy groups. The PrEP oral treatment still would be available, but it does not work for many people, Health Gap Executive Director Asia Russell told the New York Times.
UPI
6 days ago
- General
- UPI
On This Day, June 15: Supreme Court rules civil rights law protects LGBTQ workers
1 of 5 | Joseph Fons waves a rainbow flag in front of the Supreme Court after the high court released a decision that bans LGBTQ employment discrimination on June 15, 2020 in Washington, D.C. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo On this date in history: In 1215, under pressure from rebellious barons, England's King John signed the Magna Carta, a crucial first step toward creating Britain's constitutional monarchy. In 1752, Benjamin Franklin, in a dangerous experiment, demonstrated the relationship between lightning and electricity by flying a kite during a storm in Philadelphia. An iron key suspended from the kite string attracted a lightning bolt. In 1785, two Frenchmen attempting to cross the English Channel in a hot-air balloon were killed when their balloon caught fire and crashed. It was the first fatal aviation accident. In 1846, the U.S.-Canadian border was established. File Photo by Chris Corder/UPI In 1877, Henry Ossian Flipper, born a slave in Thomasville, Ga., became the first Black cadet to graduate from West Point. The U.S. Army later court martialed and dismissed him, but President Bill Clinton posthumously pardoned him in 1999. In 1904, the excursion steamboat General Slocum caught fire on the East River in New York, killing 1,121 people. In 1934, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established on a tract of land straddling North Carolina and Tennessee. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the park on Sept. 2, 1940. In 1944, U.S. forces invaded the Japanese-occupied Mariana Islands in World War II. By day's end, a beachhead had been established on the island of Saipan. In 1987, Richard Norton of Philadelphia and Calin Rosetti of West Germany completed the first polar circumnavigation of Earth in a single-engine propeller aircraft, landing in Paris after a 38,000-mile flight. In 2007, a Mississippi jury convicted a reputed Ku Klux Klansman, James Ford Seale, in the abductions and killings of two black teenagers 43 years earlier. Seale was sentenced to life in prison and died in 2011. In 2012, an executive order by President Barack Obama would allow hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children to legally seek work permits and obtain documents such as driver's licenses. The program was called the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI In 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal civil rights law protects LGBTQ workers from being fired based on their sexual or gender orientation. In 2023, a British parliamentary panel concluded that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson intentionally misled the House of Commons when he told it there had been no lockdown parties in Downing Street during the COVID-19 pandemic. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI
UPI
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- UPI
GM says it will invest $4 billion in U.S. plants over next two years
General Motors Tuesday announced a $4 billion investment in United States manufacturing plants over the next two years to build both gas and electric vehicles. CEO Mary Barra said the investment demonstrates GM's "ongoing commitment to build vehicles in the U.S." File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo June 11 (UPI) -- General Motors Tuesday announced a $4 billion investment in United States manufacturing plants over the next two years to build both gas and electric vehicles. The plants getting the money for expanded production are in Michigan, Tennessee and Kansas. "We believe the future of transportation will be driven by American innovation and manufacturing expertise," GM CEO Mary Barra said in a statement. "Today's announcement demonstrates our ongoing commitment to build vehicles in the U.S and to support American jobs." In Michigan the new investment will expand production of full-size SUVs and light duty pickups, set to begin at Orion Assembly in early 2027. GM's Factory ZERO in Hamtramck will build the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, Cadillac Escalade IQ and the GMC Hummer EV pickup and SUV. In Tennessee, the new investment will help support Chevrolet Blazer production at Spring Hill starting in 2027, as well as the Cadillac Lyriq and VistIQ and the Cadillac XT5. GM will also put new money into the Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas, where the gas-powered Chevrolet Equinox will be produced beginning in mid-2027. Fairfax will also start building the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV by the end of 2025. GM said it also expects to "make new future investments in Fairfax for GM's next generation of affordable EVs." "Today's news goes well beyond the investment numbers - this is about hardworking Americans making vehicles they are proud to build and that customers are proud to own," GM President Mark Reuss said in a statement. "As you travel the country, you can see firsthand the scale of our manufacturing footprint and the positive economic impact on our communities and our country." GM is a U.S.-based global company with 50 plants and parts facilities in 19 states, including 11 vehicle assembly plants. According to GM, the company's vehicles are seeing strong U.S. sales and became the #2 seller of EVs in the U.S. market in the second half of 2024. Chevrolet is the fastest-growing EV brand in the U.S. The Tuesday announcement from GM said 2025 capital spending for the company is between $10 billion and $11 billion. It is expected to remain in the $10 billion to $12 billion range through 2027 as GM increases U.S. investment.
UPI
09-06-2025
- UPI
TSA: Costco cards do not count as REAL ID
The Transportation Security Administration issued a reminder to travelers on social media that Costco membership cards do not count as REAL ID. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo June 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. Transportation Security Administration is warning travelers of an important piece of airport protocol: Costco membership cards do not count as REAL ID. The TSA, which began enforcing the requirement for REAL ID while traveling last month, said on social media that acceptable substitutes for the state-issued identification cards do not include wholesale warehouse memberships. "We love hot dogs & rotisserie chickens as much as the next person but please stop telling people their Costco card counts as a REAL ID because it absolutely does not," the TSA said on X. The post did not specify what people or entities were spreading the misinformation. Accepted substitutes for REAL ID at U.S. airports include passports, border crossing and permanent resident cards. The REAL ID act was passed in 2005, but implementation was delayed multiple times, most recently in 2022 due to backlogs stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
