A Columbia University social scientist was called to testify yesterday in the high-profile federal trial to decide if Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution. For the past decade, Ilan Meyer has studied the effects that public health issues have on the mental health of minority populations. Yesterday Meyer testified that California's voter-enacted ban on same-sex marriages amplified the social stigma that makes homosexuals more susceptible to depression, suicide and substance abuse. When asked if mental health outcomes for gay and lesbian in CA would improve if Prop. 8 were not law, Meyer said:
Yes. Consistent with my work and findings that show that when people are exposed to more stress than less stress they are more likely to get sick, consistent with a law that says to gay people you are not welcome here, your relationships are not valued vs. the opposite has significant power.
People in our society have goals that are cherished by all people, that are part of the social convention. We are all raised to think there are certain things we want to achieve in life, and this Proposition 8 says if you are gay or lesbian, you cannot achieve this particular goal.
The Prop. 8 trial now enters its fifth day; SFist has more on some disturbing deposition tactics, and Autostraddle has had some lively trial coverage.
