Gay marriage seekers want legal protection

BOSTON, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- A study of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts found most gay couples wanted legal protections or to make a public statement, researchers say.

The study, published in the Journal of GLBT Family Studies, also found the lack of family approval and difficulties planning and paying for the wedding were the most noted obstacles to marriage

The state legalized same-sex marriage 13 months ago.

Pamela J. Lannutti of Boston College used a sample of 263 partners in same-sex couples had an average relationship duration of 7.5 years. Seventy-two percent had gotten legally married in the 13 months after same-sex marriage was authorized in Massachusetts, and 28 percent planned to marry within 16 months.

Twenty-four percent say their attraction to marriage was for legal protections, 20 percent wanted to make a public statement of commitment, 15 percent say they wanted to marry because of feelings for their partner, 14 percent say it was a means of acknowledgment from family, 13 percent wanted legal protection in having children, 8 percent wanted it as a means of acknowledgment from friends, 4 percent married for political reasons and 2 percent cited religious reasons.

About 59 percent of the participants were women, 39 percent were men and 2 percent did not report their gender.