Accusations that gay and lesbian couples are less committed than their heterosexual peers are no more than slurs, according to new research.
Researchers from the University of Illinois studied 30 committed gay male, 30 committed lesbian couples, 50 engaged heterosexual couples, 40 older married heterosexual couples and dating heterosexual couples.
They found that the ability to resolve conflict increased in proportion with the level of commitment across all sexual orientations.
Report author Glenn Roisman, of Illinois University, said: "Gay males and lesbians were generally not different from their committed heterosexual counterparts on how well they interacted with one another, although some evidence emerged the lesbian couples were especially effective at resolving conflict.'"
Another study - this time from the University of Washington, San Diego State University and the University of Vermont - found that conferring legality on a relationship with marriage or a civil ceremony increases its chances of survival.
