(Boston, Massachusetts) A newly released study of same-sex couples who have married in the 13-months since gay weddings became legal in Massachusetts is providing insight into the reasons for tying the knot.

The study, “Attractions and Obstacles While Considering Legally Recognized Same-Sex Marriage,” was conducted by Pamela J. Lannutti, an associate professor of communication at Boston College and was published in the Journal of GLBT Family Studies.

Lannutti studied 263 partners in same-sex relationships. The couples had been together an average of  7.5 years. 

Seventy-two percent had gotten legally married in the 13 months after same-sex marriage became legal in Massachusetts, and 28 percent planned to marry within 16 months. Twenty-four percent said they decided to marry to gain legal protections.  

One person said “We thought we should get married so that we could take better care of each other as we got older; or if someone got sick… nobody could take our right to provide for each other away.” 

Twenty percent said they wanted to make a public statement of commitment. 

“It seemed wrong to be a committed couple with the right (to marry) and not use it,” said one. Another said “we want our presence felt when they try to take marriage away from us in the future.”

Fifteen percent cited feelings for their partner, 14 percent said it was a means to gaining acknowledgement from family.

For 13 percent of the couples it marriage provides legal protection for their children. 

One man who had adopted a son with his partner said “It felt like maybe after that marriage, nobody could threaten our family.” 

Only four percent cited political reasons.

“The arrival of same-sex marriage brings up many issues that often lurk in the background in families. It forces same-sex couples and their parents to confront their deepest feelings about same-sex love,” said Robert-Jay Green, PhD, executive director of Rockway Institute, a national center for psychology research, education, and public policy on sexual orientation and gender issues.

The biggest obstacles to marriage was the lack of family approval – 41 percent.

But 27 percent cited difficulties in funding and planning the ceremony and reception, and 14 percent cited philosophical or political objections to marriage.

Ten percent said they chose not to marry because of the legal limitations of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts such as no federal recognition or benefits of marriage.

Four percent blamed the lack of approval from family or friends.  ”Lack of family approval” usually meant parents’ approval, Lannutti said.

“We almost didn’t get married because my parents were so angry and mean about it,” said one female participant. “We almost changed our minds about getting married,” said a male participant. “We thought our families were OK with us as a couple, but when we wanted to send out wedding invitations, his parents freaked out.”

Lannutti said that the possibility of legal marriage had “the potential to shift the way outsiders saw the relationship.” Among those outsiders were employers and family members who would gain a clearer understanding of the relationship because it was now called a marriage, rather than a “union” or “partnership.”

She also found that the prospect of a legal status “shifts the meaning of relationships for the members of the couples themselves.”

In addition, Lannutti found the possibility of marriage can change the criteria for potential relationship partners. 

Some participants who did not favor getting married feared they would have difficulty finding potential partners who agreed. Participants reported looking at current relationships more carefully, and considering different characteristics when dating prospective partners. 

“Just having the option to marry, whether we use it or not, is changing us already,” said one.