# Studies on depression and death rates in gay population **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 18, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882 "2009-01-18T20:10:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882/1 "2009-01-18T20:10:34Z")
The sermon at my church this morning was about homosexuality and the pastor cited the results of several studies that I’m guessing were either wrong or completely out of context. I was wondering if anyone would know the sources for this information, or would know what the actual correct statistics would be: He cited that[ul] [li]Average age of death for lesbians is 42[/li][li]Average age of death for gay males was 40 something, I don’t remember the specific number[/li][li]Only 1% of gay men die of old age[/li][li]In a Dutch study, Dutch gay males have a higher rate of depression and bipolar disorder[/li][li]The typical homosexual has 49 partners[/li][li]27% of gay men have had 1 partner in the past year as compared to 67% of heterosexual men have had 1 partner in the past year[/li][li]46% of gays have been molested by a person of the same gender[/li][/ul] I have emailed the pastor to ask what studies he got his information from and I will post the studies if he responds. Does anyone know what these studies were or what the actual numbers are or where I could find accurate unbiased information? I especially want to know about the death rates, because 40 something seems ridiculously low. I could see that possibly being true in the '80s when AIDS was less understood and people died from it sooner and less gay men were out of the closet, but it seems very unlikely now. He brought up the Dutch study in the sermon because he said that there’s higher rates of suicide and depression in homosexuals and that some people say that the reason that suicide and depression is higher is because it’s not accepted in our society. So he referenced the Dutch study since their society is much more liberal and accepting of homosexuality and homosexuals can even get married there, but they still have a higher rate of depression there. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882/2 "2009-01-18T20:27:18Z")
Some are taken from studies done by [Paul Cameron](http://www.geocities.com/ninure/cameron.html), the biggest quack in modern psychology. His methodology was (get this) to scan the obituaries in gay weeklies! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882/3 "2009-01-18T20:32:43Z")
Yes, if any of the sources contain the name “Paul Cameron,” or contain data from his “studies,” take them with a very tiny grain of salt. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882/4 "2009-01-18T20:33:38Z")
So, the lesson is; if you are lesbian or homosexual and under 40, get cracking cos the clock is ticking. How Christian to be that caring about someone who god hates. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882/5 "2009-01-18T20:37:19Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Yes, if any of the sources contain the name “Paul Cameron,” or contain data from his “studies,” take them with a very tiny grain of salt. I’d argue that you’d have to buy a salt mine to get through his stuff. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882/6 "2009-01-18T20:48:56Z")
As a lesbian in her late 40’s, I see no shortage of others like me, and actually know of very few lesbians who’ve died young. I’d love to see the methodology that factoid is based on. There’s been a fair amount of misinterpretation of suicide statistics. Here’s a [summary](http://www.apa.org/monitor/feb02/newdata.html) that includes references to recent and easy-to-find studies. You’ll see higher rates of some mental health issues, understood to reflect the cultural context, which is still pretty stressful and discriminatory (e.g., Prop 8 right now). You’ll also see where some rates are lower than previously reported. ---
**Author:** ![spike404](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@spike404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spike404)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882/7 "2009-01-18T21:02:51Z")
Homosexual behavior is definitely not a healthy life style. Don’t know about the stats. Since they are not cited, they may be true, or false. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882/8 "2009-01-18T21:09:12Z")
> [@spike404](#): > > Homosexual behavior is definitely not a healthy life style. So give us a cite for this statement of yours. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882/9 "2009-01-18T21:15:05Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > So give us a cite for this statement of yours. Preferably one that doesn’t come from Paul Cameron or Joseph Nicolosi over at NARTH. Citing those sources to argue for the unhealthiness of homosexuality is like citing the sermons of Father Coughlin to argue for the treachery of the Jews. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882/10 "2009-01-18T21:15:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Homosexual behavior is definitely not a healthy life style. What homosexual behavior? For example, I am eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich made for me by my homosexual partner. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882/11 "2009-01-18T21:16:10Z")
> [@susan](#): > > What homosexual behavior? For example, I am eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich made for me by my homosexual partner. See?! Peanut butter and jelly…nothing but sugar and fat! How much more unhealthy can you get? ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882/12 "2009-01-18T21:27:18Z")
We prefer to think of it as zinc and folate with vitamin C on sprouted grains baked to a biblical recipe, but you know how our sort twist the facts to justify our diets. If god had intended us to eat peanuts, he wouldn’t have hidden them underground. ETA: Of course, **spike404** wants to know elsewhere how to “lubricate wooden drawers,” which I am sure is slang for some sort of perverse sexual act. ---
**Author:** ![spike404](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@spike404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spike404)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882/13 "2009-01-18T21:32:20Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > So give us a cite for this statement of yours. Just do a search. Start with the CDC. Of course, any study that supports a shorter life span for homosexuals will be immediately dismissed as flawed. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882/14 "2009-01-18T21:36:20Z")
> [@spike404](#): > > Just do a search. Start with the CDC. > > Of course, any study that supports a shorter life span for homosexuals will be immediately dismissed as flawed. Your assertion, your cites. The ball is in your court to convince us that you are correct. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882/15 "2009-01-18T21:36:47Z")
> [@spike404](#): > > Just do a search. Start with the CDC. Spike404, that’s not the way it works here. You made that blanket statement. So it’s up to you to support it with a cite. The rest of us aren’t responsible for doing the search work to support your statement. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882/16 "2009-01-18T22:07:14Z")
If you’re talking about AIDS, you should know that the vast majority of HIV infections (about 2/3) in the world are transmitted heterosexually. You should also know that the CDC reports [no](http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/women/resources/factsheets/wsw.htm) cases of female-to-female sexual transmission to date, which proves that lesbianism is the healthiest possible sexual orientation, right? It still doesn’t explain why we apparently die off before we reach my age, but I’ll guess it’s because of all that tofu and folk guitar. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882/17 "2009-01-18T22:09:58Z")
Well, as the OP said, depression and suicide rates are most likely higher because of the view of homosexuality in our society-just look at the comments from **spike404**. When you have people calling you a pervert, freak, unnatural, child molestor, etc, people being thrown out of their homes, denied the right to marry, to adopt, losing their jobs and the like-hell, I’m amazed that the depression rates aren’t even higher than that! I would certainly be depressed if I had to deal with such abuse. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882/18 "2009-01-18T23:06:41Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Some are taken from studies done by [Paul Cameron](http://www.geocities.com/ninure/cameron.html), the biggest quack in modern psychology. His methodology was (get this) to scan the obituaries in gay weeklies! Thanks for the link **jayjay**. I knew there must have been some really flawed researching or some heavy twisting of numbers to get those results. I don’t know if I’ll be able to change many people’s minds at church by telling them where the numbers come from, but I like being able to say why the numbers are wrong instead of just saying they sound ridiculous. > [@susan](#): > > Here’s a [summary](http://www.apa.org/monitor/feb02/newdata.html) that includes references to recent and easy-to-find studies. You’ll see higher rates of some mental health issues, understood to reflect the cultural context, which is still pretty stressful and discriminatory (e.g., Prop 8 right now). You’ll also see where some rates are lower than previously reported. Thanks **susan**. That’s especially interesting on the study that lesbians have higher self esteem. Also thanks to everyone else to your responses so far. Anyone know anything about the Dutch study? I thought that was most interesting, but I’m guessing the study was either inaccurately done, or Dutch gay men only are 1% more likely to be more depressed or bipolar than Dutch straight men, or something else like that. Or if being gay is truly that much more depressing than being straight, there would also be studies from Canada and Spain and Vermont and other places where gay marriage is allowed and homosexuality is presumably more accepted. ---
**Author:** ![spike404](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@spike404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spike404)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882/19 "2009-01-18T23:54:37Z")
“…ETA: Of course, spike404 wants to know elsewhere how to “lubricate wooden drawers,” which I am sure is slang for some sort of perverse sexual act…” You think that only because you are obsessed with perverse sexual acts. Rational folks would make no such connection. * * * I suggested that doing a search in relation to homosexuals having a shorter life span. How about a source that states that homosexuals have a longer life span? Or, that their life spans are average? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882/20 "2009-01-18T23:58:06Z")
> [@spike404](#): > > I suggested that doing a search in relation to homosexuals having a shorter life span. > > How about a source that states that homosexuals have a longer life span? Or, that their life spans are average? Again, that’s not our job. YOUR job, as the person who brought the “homosexuality is an unhealthy lifestyle” thing in here, is to support it with a cite. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studies-on-depression-and-death-rates-in-gay-population/481882.md?page=2)