The U.S. Census Bureau released its first-ever report on unmarried partners and same-sex households late last week. Prior to the release, the Institute for Gay and Lesbian Strategic Studies (IGLSS) issued a report suggesting the Census underestimated the number of gay and lesbian households by at least 100,000.
Beginning in 1990, when answering a question about the relationship between unrelated people living in the same household, respondents are allowed to choose from Roomer/Boarder, Housemate/ Roommate, Unmarried Partner, Foster Child, and other. The 1990 Census was the first to allow the 'unmarried partner' classification and this year marks the first time the Census Bureau provided calculations relating to same-sex partners by cross-referencing those who chose 'Unmarried Partner' and who are the same sex as the partner.
Of the 5.5 million unmarried couples, more than 10 percent are gay or lesbian, according to the Census report. There was little difference in the number of gay male households and lesbian households.
Midwesterners, according to the Census report, had the lowest percentage of same-sex couples with 8% of unmarried couples being gay or lesbian. People in the West had the highest (12%), followed by the South (11.6%) and the Northeast (11.1%). The IGLSS report suggests that confidentiality issues may have caused gay and lesbian respondents, especially in the Midwest, to choose the 'Housemate' designation rather than 'Unmarried Partner.'
Major metropolitan areas account for the largest percentage of same-sex couples. 11.3% of unmarried couples in or around cities were reportedly gay or lesbian, while only 2% of unmarried couples were gay in rural areas. So while the Midwest, as a whole, may have low same sex partner counts, Illinois, boosted by Chicago, kept up with the national average with 10.4% of unmarried couples being gay or lesbian.
States like Iowa (3.1%) and South Dakota (5.9%) that do not have large cities brought the Midwest average to a humbling number.
Lee Badgett, Research Director for the IGLSS, said even these numbers significantly underrepresent the true number of gay households. 'In conservative places more same-sex couples might have hesitated to use the 'unmarried partner' designation more than couples in liberal coastal cities,' she said.
While the debate over adoption and child rearing continues in states like Iowa and Florida, the Census Bureau reports that 34% of lesbian couples and 22% of male couples already have children compared to 43% of unmarried heterosexual partners.
In Illinois, gay men are more likely than lesbians or straight people to be in an interracial unmarried partnership. Lesbians are least likely to engage in interracial partnerships. Nationwide, gay and lesbian American Indians and Blacks were least likely to be in a partnership with someone of their own race. Gay and lesbian Asians and Pacific Islanders, followed by Caucasians, were most likely to be coupled with someone of the same race.
