Samesex couples

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Same-sex couples

• US Census and the
• American Community Survey
• Gary J. Gates
• Williams Distinguished Scholar

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Counting same-sex couples
John and Tom consider themselves to be unmarried
partners
X
X
X
X
X
X
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By the numbers

• US 565,000 same-sex couples
• 150,000 same-sex spouses (in all states)
• 30-35,000 legally married same-sex couples
• 80,000 same-sex couples in non-marital forms of
  legal recognition
• 415,000 unmarried partners
• 116,000 same-sex couples raising nearly a quarter
  million children
• New York 45,761 same-sex couples
• 8,981 same-sex spouses
• 36,780 unmarried partners
• 22,930 in Philadelphia

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• Same-sex couples in NY
• 9,000 same-sex couples raising 18,000 children
• 9 rural
• 24 non-white
• 7 veterans

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Census data challenge stereotypes

• LGBT people all live in cities
• 1 in 6 same-sex couples live in a rural area
• LGBT people are all white
• 1 in 4 people in same-sex couples are non-white
• Few LGBT people are parents
• 1 in 5 same-sex couples are raising children
• 2 in 5 non-white people in same-sex couples are
  raising children
• LGBT people are rich
• 1 in 5 children raised by same-sex couples live
  in poverty

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Where have Census data been used?

• Marriage/relationship recognition
• Many same-sex couples look like married couples
• Employment Non-Discrimination Act
• Men in same-sex couples earn less than other men
• Dont Ask/Dont Tell
• 65,000 LGBT people in the military
• Uniting American Families Act
• 36,000 Binational couples
• Attempts to ban LGBT adoption/fostering
• 65,000 adopted/14,100 foster children with LGBT
  parents

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Whats new for LGBT people in Census 2010?

• Release separate counts of same-sex spouses and
  unmarried partners
• Explicit outreach to LGBT community
• Follow-on study to alter future surveys to get
  accurate estimates of legal marriage, civil
  unions, and domestic partnership

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When will they ask sexual orientation/gender
identity?

• What to ask?
• Sexual orientation question well vetted
• Gender identity
• No consensus on appropriate question(s)
• Limited evidence about what questions work
• Many responses by proxyquestionable accuracy
• Decennial Census survey very shortnew questions
  unlikely
• Additions to ACS and other prominent government
  surveys more likely

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Why should LGBT people be invested in Census 2010?

• Accurate count of same-sex couples important
• Census/ACS data have been used in positive ways
  in nearly every LGBT policy debate
• Provide evidence of the need for SO/GI questions
  on surveys
• LGBT engagement with the Census Bureau increases
  likelihood of getting SO/GI questions on surveys
• LGBT engagement with other groups mobilizing
  around the Census improves community relations
  and might create future allies

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For more information

• www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute

• www.OurFamiliesCount.org