A new study out of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health reveals that gay people living in homophobic communities tend to die earlier than those in more supportive environments.

Mark Hatzenbuehler, professor of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia, says these effects "are independent of established risk factors for mortality, including household income, education, gender, ethnicity, and age, as well as the average income and education level of residents in the communities where the respondents lived."

Among the conclusions reached by the multifaceted report, the first of its kind, was that suicide, homicide and cardiovascular disease were much higher than national averages.

But it's not just the victims of prejudice who are dying younger: Another study has found that the same is true for the people perpetuating anti-gay bias.

Individuals who support anti-LGBT discrimination have a life expectancy that is 2.5 years shorter than people who endorse equality. That rate is constant across education levels, class and general health status.

Past research has uncovered similar results for white people who harbor animus against African-Americans, but the researchers note "anti-gay prejudice increased mortality risk more strongly than racial prejudice."

The study's results were based on responses to a series of hypothetical questions, including:

* “If some people in your community suggested that a book in favor of homosexuality should be taken out of your public library, would you favor removing this book, or not?”

* “Should a man who admits that he is a homosexual be allowed to teach in a college or university, or not?”

* “Suppose a man who admits that he is a homosexual wanted to make a speech in your community. Should he be allowed to speak, or not?”

h/t: Edge on the Net.