Brian Brown: The Study That Links Same-Sex Marriage To Decrease In LGBT Teen Suicides Is Fake News

Via email from hate group leader Brian Brown:

A recent study in the journal JAMA Pediatrics has caused a lot of buzz in the press. The study claims to trace the “Association Between State Same-Sex Marriage Policies and Adolescent Suicide Attempts” among LGBT youth and is being presented by the media as “proof” that gay marriage saves lives.

But like much of the fake news coverage this study has generated, the study itself leads people to a fake conclusion: that somehow the enactment of same-sex marriage results in reduced teen suicide attempts, especially for LGBT teens. In fact, the study proves nothing of the sort. Indeed, some data in the report suggest the opposite may be true in states that have had experience with same-sex marriage the longest.

In the classic logical fallacy — since “A” happened, followed by “B” happening, “B” was caused by A” — readers are led to a conclusion that is not established by the evidence. Such is the case with the JAMA report. What other correlations could be used to advance a similar conclusion, one wonders? Obamacare was passed in 2010. Are changes in attempted teen suicide rates associated with Obamacare? What about the enactment of DACA, which was created in 2012? What about Dodd Frank, which was enacted in 2010? Or the stimulus plan enacted in 2009?