Same sex relationships
Concerning same sex relationships, research indicates that lesbian couples often experience higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) and divorce compared to heterosexual couples, while gay male couples frequently exhibit lower or similar rates of divorce compared to heterosexual counterparts.
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Findings
Lesbian Couples
Studies indicate that lesbian women are at a higher risk of experiencing IPV (including physical, sexual, or stalking) compared to heterosexual women, with estimates showing that 44% of lesbians have experienced this in their lifetime, compared to 35% of heterosexual women.
Gay Male Couples
Findings on gay male couples are more varied, with some research indicating rates of IPV are similar to or lower than those in heterosexual relationships, although still significant. Contributing Factors: The NIH study notes higher rates of IPV in same-sex relationships are often attributed to the "minority stress model," which includes external stressors like discrimination and internal stressors like internalized negativity. 
Divorce and Relationship Stability
Lesbian Couples: Evidence suggests that female same-sex couples have higher rates of divorce compared to both heterosexual couples and male same-sex couples. One report suggests a divorce rate of around 40% for female couples compared to 30% for heterosexual couples, often attributed to quicker progression into marriage and cohabitation. Gay Male Couples: While studies show that same-sex couples generally have higher separation rates, gay male couples sometimes demonstrate lower divorce rates than lesbian couples, often characterized by different relationship dynamics than female couples. 
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