You know how people who oppose gay marriage are fond of saying it undermines the institution of marriage? And you know how nothing really undermines marriage quite like divorce? Well, interestingly enough, Peter Cassels, contributor to The Edge, writes that states that have legalized gay marriage tend to have the fewest divorces.

Massachusetts has the lowest divorce rate: 1.8 per 1,000 population; and was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage. Washington D.C. comes in second with 2.1 per 1,000 and New York is tied with Iowa (2.5 per 1,000). All four have legalized gay marriage.

Nevada has the highest divorce rate and offers domestic partnerships, but it’s a unique state, long known for quickie divorce … perhaps as a chaser after you have your quickie wedding there.

There’s a long list of what Cassels calls “divorce-crazy states” and in answer to the obvious question, “Why such high divorce rates in ‘family values’ states?” the answers are numerous. Cassels quotes Stephanie Coontz of Evergreen State College as saying “Many of the people in Southern states oppose divorce but they also oppose premarital sex,” and that “A big risk factor is marrying at a young age.”

Education, tolerance of diversity and higher income are all factors that help marriage will fare better.

So heterosexual marriages do not, in fact, disintegrate when gay couples are allowed to marry as well. They are capable of doing it all by themselves.