The number of reported same-sex households rocketed 267% in Illinois over the last 10 years, according to U.S. Census statistics released last week.
The figures jumped from 6,220 in 1990 to 22, 887 in 2000. Of that new total, 13,271 are in Chicago and Cook County, and almost 1,300 in DuPage County. In Cook County, there were 7,575 male couples and 5,696 female couples; in DuPage, 647 male and 646 female couples.
Same-sex partnerships make up about 0.5% of the 4.6 million households in Illinois.
The Berwyn United Neighborhood Gay and Lesbian Organization ( BUNGALO ) touted the suburban figures. According to the Census Bureau, the average ratio of same-sex households in the six-county metro area is 2.1 per 1,000 people. The average ratio for the city of Chicago is 3.1. Berwyn's ratio is 2.2, while Cicero's is 2.0. Oak Park has 4.9 same-sex households per 1,000, followed by Forest Park with 4.
All of the other states for which figures were released last week experienced similar jumps in same-sex households. Nevada saw a 711% increase, from 613 in 1990 to 4,973 in 2000; Delaware saw a 781% jump, from 212 to 1,868, while next door in Indiana, the reported number jumped 428%, from 1,935 to 10,219.
Last year's census form offered "unmarried partner" as an option to describe the relationship between two unrelated people living together. Other options included "housemate," "boarder," and "other non-relative."
"Unmarried partner" was first offered as an option in 1990. Most leaders attribute the jump in figures to an education campaign launched among gay groups before last year's census.
There also might be more willingness to be open on government forms.