The hidden cost of queer divorce
LGBTQIA+ couples know how to divorce amicably. But high rates of anxiety compared with heterosexual couples tell us something more. Katie Baskerville investigates.
Design by Yosef Phelan
A heartwarming statistic doesn't usually accompany research on how marriages end. Yet, when it comes to calling it quits, queer couples are reportedly setting the standard on how to do it kindly.
The 2026 survey conducted by Amicable, a company that helps couples in England and Wales separate together without solicitors, surveyed 2,000 people and found that 58 per cent of their LGBTQIA+ participants described their separation as amicable, just ahead of 54 per cent of straight couples.
However, the data on LGBTQIA+ couples' mental and emotional state paints a very different picture. For queer respondents, 44 per cent expressed feelings of anxiety or panic, compared with 33 per cent of heterosexual partners. This is despite the parallel trend that shows more queer folks are accessing therapy or counselling.
So what's going on here? If splitting up the assets and organising parenthood calendars aren't taking their toll, what is?
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