Understanding health inequalities experienced by self-identified sexual minorities, same-sex partners, and their children

Dramatic changes in policies, discrimination, and stigma have improved the social contexts of same-sex couples in Sweden and elsewhere. But for whom have these changes mattered?

A dearth of data with sufficient numbers and health outcomes of both the larger group of self-identified sexual minorities, and the smaller group of people in same-sex unions, perpetuates a knowledge deficit: Scholars cannot account for the documented health inequalities for self-identified sexual minorities and their children, yet few to no disadvantages for people in same-sex partnerships—regardless of identity—and their children.

Understanding these groups’ composition, selection into same-sex unions, and causal pathways to health is fundamental.

We will characterize sexual minorities who are/are not in same-sex unions; document physical and mental health disparities; assess explanations such as discrimination, victimization, and social support; and examine children’s health.

The Swedish National Public Health Surveys and population registers are globally unique in providing sufficient representative samples of sexual minorities and their children inside and outside same-sex unions. Our interdisciplinary international team has extensive experience with the topic, data, and analyses.

Understanding these disparities is fundamental for understanding extant research, catalyzing global scholarship, and improving the well-being of “invisible” sexual minorities left behind in policy and clinical practice.