The Wonderfully Awesome Marriage Statistics in Iowa

Many of us have heard that tired stereotype proffered by people against marriage equality, who say that allowing gay and lesbian couples to get hitched would result in an attack on traditional marriage. On a basic human level, many of us see right through that statement as just a talking point to deny a group of people their civil rights.

But on a purely statistical level, the "gays as threat to traditional marriage" argument carries absolutely no water, either. The proof is in the numbers. Exhibit A: Iowa.

Last year, the Iowa State Supreme Court ruled that under the state's constitution, gay and lesbian couples should be entitled to the institution of marriage. Iowa became the third state (behind Massachusetts and Connecticut) to recognize marriage equality, and the only state outside of the northeast (this isn't counting California's brief recognition of marriage equality in 2008, obviously).

Now, more than a year later, numbers are coming in about marriage in Iowa. And here's what those numbers say: marriages are up, and divorces are down.

Think it's too premature to say that same-sex marriage actually saves the institution of marriage?

According to the Sioux City Journal, Iowa posted its lowest number of divorces last year since 1970. It also turned around a trend of declining marriage numbers for the first time in four years, something which same-sex marriage undoubtedly had a role in, with more than 2,000 same-sex weddings taking place in the state last year.

"That's really good news," said Drake University lecturer Laurie Linhart, putting it as blunt (and, perhaps, as accurate) as you can get.

It also reminds me of the statistics that broke a year ago, looking at divorce rates nationwide. Guess where divorce rates were the lowest?

Gay marriage-lovin' Massachusetts, which has recognized same-sex marriage for more than half a decade now. In fact, divorce numbers were so low in the Bay State last year, they rivaled statistics stemming all the way back to World War II.

Coincidence? I'm no sociologist, so I won't venture a guess. But to hear opponents of marriage equality constantly strike fear into the hearts of Americans, by saying that allowing gays and lesbians to marry would damage the institution of marriage, is just a sham. There's no truth to it on a substantive level. And there's certainly no truth to it when it comes to the numbers.

Maybe it's time for a new bumper sticker: "Want to Save Traditional Marriage? Give Everyone the Freedom to Marry."

Photo credit: Alan Light