LOS ANGELES— The Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Windsor contributed to a significant increase in the number of same-sex couples marrying—even in states that had marriage equality long before the decision—according to new analysis by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. State administrative data from Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont shows that the number of same-sex couples who married nearly doubled in marriage equality states from 2012 to 2013.
"The expansion of legal benefits to same-sex couples and the symbolic power of federal recognition appear to have increased the economic and cultural incentives for same-sex couples to marry," said M.V. Lee Badgett, Distinguished Scholar at the Williams Institute and Director of the Center for Public Policy and Administration at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
The Williams Institute's findings of this "Windsor Effect" on the number of same-sex couples marrying is part of a series of new analyses based on administrative data from states that recognized same-sex marriages and relationships as of early 2014.
In another analysis, the Williams Institute finds that in states that allow same-sex couples to formalize their relationship through marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships, almost two-thirds ( 64% ) of all same-sex couples who entered legal relationships are female. When just considering those states with marriage equality, 62% of married same-sex couples are female.
State level data also shows that on average 1.1% of same-sex couples dissolve their relationships each year. When just considering marriage equality states ( New Hampshire and Vermont ), on average only 1.6% of same-sex couples divorce annually. These rates are lower than the annual rate of divorce among married different-sex couples, which is about 2% annually.
"It is not surprising that divorce rates for married same-sex couples are lower," says study co-author Christy Mallory. "Many of these couples have been waiting years to get married. On average, they are more likely to have relationships tested by time before marrying."
All three of these reports were co-authored by M.V. Lee Badgett, Distinguished Scholar at the Williams Institute, and Director of the Center for Public Policy and Administration at the University of Massachusetts Amherst; and Christy Mallory, Senior Counsel at the Williams Institute. To read the full reports, please click here.
The Williams Institute is dedicated to conducting rigorous, independent research on sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy. A national think tank at UCLA Law, the Williams Institute produces high-quality research with real-world relevance and disseminates its work through a variety of education programs and media to judges, legislators, lawyers, other policymakers, and the public. For more information go to: williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/ .
