Leading public health experts have urged politicians to support marriage equality and said marriage discrimination contributed to higher rates of poor mental health amongst the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) community.

Archie Clements, Professor of Public Health at The Australian National University (ANU) said opposing marriage equality would compound health inequity.

“There is a strong public health case for marriage equality,” said Professor Clements, from the ANU School of Population Health.

“The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognised that health outcomes are poorer amongst the vulnerable and marginalised.

“Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer people have higher levels of poor mental health than the general population and have higher suicide rates.”

For example, more than 36 per cent of trans and 24 per cent of gay, lesbian and bisexual Australians experienced a major depressive episode in 2005, compared with 6.8 per cent of the general population.

Same-sex attracted Australians are 14 times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers.

“A definition of marriage that promotes social exclusion, stigma and discrimination will compound the health inequities of LGBTIQ people and will result in poorer health outcomes,” he said.

The WHO has resolved that all member states, including Australia, take into account health equity in public policy decision making.

The children of LGBTIQ couples are especially vulnerable to mental health damage from derogatory language used in public debat, said Professor Clements.

Professor Clements contributed to a letter sent to all Federal Members of Parliament by the Public Health Association of Australia and the Council of Public Health Institutions of Australia urging parliamentarians to support marriage equality.

“Australia has made great progress towards the social inclusion of LGBTIQ people and their children in recent decades. We urge our national leaders to support marriage equality as part of their duty of care to all Australians,” the letter said.

FOR INTERVIEW:
Professor Archie Clements
Research School of Population Health
E: Archie.Clements@anu.edu.au
For assistance contact the ANU media office on 02 6125 7979, or visit experts.anu.edu.au