What are some differences and similarities between same sex relationships and heterosexual relationships?

Question

Please include differences and similarities between the individuals, names, attitudes, behaviors, anything between these two types of relationships, including the people that engage in these relationships. Thanks! Need A.S.A.P!

Answer 1

The only thing intrinsically different is the gender composition of the couples. Otherwise, their are no differences that you can say are universal.

Answer 2

Except for the obvious, there is little difference in the relationship itself...work, work, work....compromise, compromise, compromise.
I think that more Gay relationships would survive IF they had to end in the courts instead of walking out a door....a cooling off period would prevent a lot of basically good relationships from going down the tubes...but once said, "I'm Outta Here," pride often takes over and the relationship is gone...sad. On the otherhand, I am also quite sure that in many, many straight marriages, a preponderance of people WISH that was all it took. At least, when we split, we do not loose half of what we came into the relationship with. Good luck

Answer 3

There's really no difference. Some hetero relationships have the whole "dominant/submissive" role playing thing going on and so do some glbt relationships. Some hetero relationships have children, and so do some glbt relationships. Some hetero relationships have domestic violence, and sadly, so do some glbt relationships. Glbt relationships are no different than others really. The only thing is that the biological sex is the same in both the people, but in the transgender/transsexual relationships, even THAT can get complicated and seem to be almost more of a hetero relationship.
Some of the differences though that DO occur between MARRIED hetero relationships and a gay/lesbian relationship include: gays and lesbians can't "legally" get married in the U.S. (although some states do civil unions), so since they can't be legally married, they don't acquire some of the benefits afford to married heterosexual couples.. such as survivor benefits in the loss of a spouse, child custody rights (for the non biological parent), tax deductions that are afforded to married hetero couples, or like in the case your spouse gets put into the hospital, sometimes their gay and lesbian partner isn't allowed to see them because they are not legally "immediate family", also sometimes in a gay or lesbian relationship, the other spouse is not entitled to anything if their spouse dies (because the person's immediate family will make arrangements and will sometimes completely shut out the person's partner) This is really sad in my opinion. Could you imagine spending a large majority of your life (we're talking many YEARS)with your partner, and just because you are the same sex, when your partner passes, his or her family comes in, and could possibly sell your house, take everything that belonged to your partner, and you may not even be allowed to help with the plannning of funeral arrangements, or even worse, be allowed to attend.
Now there ARE some things gays and lesbians can do to help prevent some of these things. It would include making a power of attorney, leaving a will (to include your parnter), joint financial accounts, legal adoption papers for children (although some states are hestitant to allow adoptions for same sex couples), both names on deed to housing, ect. In some gay and lesbian relationships, there's a little more red tape.

Answer 4

Everything is the same , why wouldn't it be ?

Attitudes, lifestyle are exactly the same except being gay means people tend to judge you for having a girlfriend / boyfriend i.e if you wanted to adopt a child , not even the government has that right to judge as they accept same sex relationships are no different to hetro.

Just the narrow minded people in our society whoms owns life are so sad have nothing better to do with their time !!!

Answer 5

In reality both straight and GLBT couples vary A LOT! There's butch-looking women with effeminate men. There's feminine women with masculine female lovers. Really the only difference might be the equipment the people bring to the table. When you start including the T part of the GLBT community into the mix, even that goes out the window.

Answer 6

As a bi-sexual man whose had long term relationships both ways, I would say the only real difference, aside from the obvious physical, is social acceptability. As a career Navy man I could have, and did, get dependent's benefits for my girlfriend, I couldn't have for my boyfriend when we were together.

Answer 7

The only thing different is that one couple would be the same gender, the other would be opposite genders of each other. Heterosexual and homosexual relationships are the same other than that.

Answer 8

the ONLY difference between heterosexual and homosexual relationships, is that we have a loving relationship with someone of the same sex. the rest is all the same.

Answer 9

same sex relationships are very similar to het relationships. Honoring, caring, loving, giving. It is harder to fit into society and harder to have kids. The differences that I can easily see are similar in nature also. Men have competing egos and need to learn to give and take. Women are typically more giving and they need to learn better boundaries around giving and to learn to take sometimes with out guilt.

Guess on second thought they are all alike.

Answer 10

Difference: gender identity and/or sexual orientation of the involved parties, legality of the relationship, amount of persecution from others

Similarity: everything else, including the most important (and arguably only) aspect -- love.