A new report challenges stereotypes about gay male relationships and how long they last. A study from The Williams Institute at UCLA followed more than 500 Vermont couples—including gay, lesbian, and heterosexual relationships—over the 12-year period from 2002 to 2014. Researchers found that, overall, gay male couples were the least likely to part ways. Lesbians were twice as likely as gay men to terminate their relationships, and one-and-a-half as likely as heterosexuals. Additionally, the Williams Institute study looked at what factors affect the longevity of participants’ relationships: They noted that longer relationships, relationships between older partners, and relationships between highly educated partners were more likely to stand the test of time.
