The Push-Pull of Policy Pressure: A Qualitative Exploration of the Experiences of Same-Sex Marriage Policies Among Non-Metropolitan GLB Individuals

This paper is a qualitative exploration of the experiences of marriage policies among people in same-sex relationships living in non-metropolitan United States areas. Although numerous studies have investigated the financial and legal costs and benefits of same-sex marriage policies, research examining experiences of the relational effects of these policies is limited. Using a grounded theory methodology, a core category, "the push-pull of policy pressure" emerged, reflecting feelings of duality expressed by participants. These included the experience of same-sex marriage debates as both strengthening and adding strain to their relationship, and the contrasting beliefs that marriage equality would and would not reduce society's homophobia. These emergent dualities suggest opposing feelings as well as nascency in participants' experiences of same-sex marriage policies.