Pink Work: Same-Sex Marriage, Employment and Discrimination

TL;DR

This study examines how legalizing same-sex marriage in the U.S. improved employment opportunities and reduced discrimination for gay and lesbian couples, using a difference-in-difference approach to analyze labor market outcomes.

Contribution

It provides empirical evidence that marriage equality positively impacted employment and reduced occupational segregation among sexual minorities.

Findings

Increased likelihood of employment and full-time contracts for same-sex couples in states with marriage legalization.

Longer working hours observed among same-sex couples post-legalization.

Support for reduced discrimination and occupational segregation based on theoretical and empirical analysis.

Abstract

This paper analyzes how the legalization of same-sex marriage in the U.S. affected gay and lesbian couples in the labor market. Results from a difference-in-difference model show that both partners in same-sex couples were more likely to be employed, to have a full-time contract, and to work longer hours in states that legalized same-sex marriage. In line with a theoretical search model of discrimination, suggestive empirical evidence supports the hypothesis that marriage equality led to an improvement in employment outcomes among gays and lesbians and lower occupational segregation thanks to a decrease in discrimination towards sexual minorities.