1. Same-sex couples US Census and the American Community Survey Gary J. Gates Williams Distinguished Scholar

2. Counting same-sex couples X X X X X X John and Tom consider themselves to be unmarried partners Anita and Maria got married in Iowa Same-sex spouses exceed counts of legally married couples by a factor of five. Do not interpret same-sex spouses as legally married.

3. 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 Pennsylvania: 20,656 same-sex couples ▫6,487 same-sex spouses ▫14,169 unmarried partners ▫4,437 in Philadelphia

4. Same-sex couples in PA ~4,300 same-sex couples raising 8,600 children 20% rural 17% non-white 10% veterans

5. District (110 th Congress) Same-sex couples per 1000 householdsCongressperson California-835.80Nancy Pelosi New York-820.70Jerrold Nadler California-917.22Barbara Lee California-1216.52Jackie Speier Washington-716.48Jim McDermott California-514.78Doris O. Matsui Georgia-514.63John Lewis California-4514.23Mary Bono Mack District of Columbia14.12Eleanor Holmes Norton California-5313.82Susan A. Davis

6. Same-sex spouses per 1,000 households Massachusetts3.63 Vermont2.71 Hawaii2.43 Utah2.32 Wyoming2.28 California1.92 Nevada1.85 Connecticut1.79 New Jersey1.70 Rhode Island1.64

7. 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

8. 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 Don’t Ask/Don’t 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

9. What’s 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

10. 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 proxy—questionable accuracy Decennial Census survey very short—new questions unlikely Additions to ACS and other prominent government surveys more likely

11. 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

12. For more information www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute www.OurFamiliesCount.org