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RECENT STUDIES
 Research
Note: Same-sex Marriages in California
October 2008
We surveyed California counties in order estimate the number
of same-sex couples who have married in the state in the
first three months since these marriages were made legal in
June, 2008. This estimate provides a context for the
potential impact of the upcoming California voter
initiative, Proposition 8, which would change California’s
Constitution to “eliminate the right of same-sex couples to
marry.” We estimate that more than 11,000 same-sex couples
have married in California between June 17 and September 17,
2008.
Census Snapshot: California Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Population
By Gary J. Gates and Christopher Ramos
October 2008
This report provides demographic and economic information
for the almost 861,000 LGB individuals and 109,000 same-sex
couples living in California. We use the 2005/2006 American
Community Survey (ACS), conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau,
to compare characteristics of same-sex couples to their
different-sex married counterparts. We use data from the
2003 and 2005 California Health Interview Survey to consider
demographic traits of the full lesbian, gay, and bisexual
population in the state. The study shows nearly 25% of
same-sex couples in California are raising more than 52,000
children. The study also shows that same-sex couples raising
children have fewer economic resources than their
heterosexual, married counterparts.
Gay and Lesbian Partnership: Evidence from California
By Christopher Carpenter and Gary J. Gates
October 2008
Much recent research on sexual minorities has used
couples-based samples, which—by construction—provide no
information on nonpartnered individuals. We present the
first systematic empirical analysis of partnership and
cohabitation among self-identified gay men and lesbians
using two independent, large, population-based data sources
from California. These data indicate that 37%–46% of gay men
and 51%–62% of lesbians aged 18–59 are in cohabiting
partnerships (compared with 62% of heterosexual individuals
in coresidential unions at comparable ages). Unlike previous
research, we find that white and highly educated gay men and
lesbians are more likely to be partnered, and we confirm
that same-sex cohabiting partners in our data have
demographic characteristics that are similar to California
same-sex couples from Census 2000. We also present the first
detailed analysis of officially registered domestic
partnerships in California. We find that almost half of
partnered lesbians are officially registered with the local
or state government, while less than a quarter of partnered
gay men are officially registered. We conclude with
implications of our findings for couples-based research on
gay men and lesbians, as well as recommendations for survey
data collection.
Registered Domestic Partnerships Among Gay Men and Lesbians: The Role of Economic Factors
M. V. Lee Badgett, Gary J. Gates, and Natalya C. Maisel
October 2008
In this paper, we predict the demand for a marriage-like
status—registered domestic partnership–among same-sex
couples. Domestic partnership in the state of California now
comes with almost all of the rights and responsibilities of
marriage that a state can provide. We use the LGBT (Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) Tobacco Use Survey conducted
by the California Department of Health and the Field
Research Corporation in 2003. From this telephone survey, we
use a probability sample of 1,002 lesbian and gay
individuals in California. Using multinomial probit models
of partnership status (single, not cohabiting, cohabiting,
or registered), we find limited evidence of economic
motivations in the choice to register. Gay men’s likelihood
of registration rises with income; lesbians’ probability of
registration rises with age. Couples with longer duration
are more likely to register, suggesting that registration
and duration are complementary signals of commitment and
possibly of the need for rights and benefits of
registration.
The Fiscal Impact of
Extending Federal Benefits to same-sex Domestic Partners
By Naomi G. Goldberg, Christopher Ramos, and M.V. Lee
Badgett
September 2008
This report finds that offering health and other benefits to
the same-sex partners of federal employees would add $41
million to the federal budget in the first year of coverage.
Over ten years the report predicts the budgetary cost will
be $675 million, a small percentage of the federal budget.
The report also takes into account the added federal income
taxes that will be paid by federal employees if they sign a
partner up for health insurance. It estimates the cost of
including partners in retirement benefits, work injury and
death compensation, and travel and relocation expenses. Many
benefits offered to federal employees, such as life
insurance and family and medical leave, can be offered to
domestic partners at no additional cost to the federal
government.
 Marriage,
Registration and Dissolution by Same-sex Couples in the U.S.
By Gary J.
Gates, M.V. Lee Badgett, and Deborah Ho
July 2008
This study analyzes data from states that have extended
legal recognition to same-sex couples. Analyses show that
same-sex couples want and use these new legal statuses.
Furthermore, they react more enthusiastically when marriage
is possible. More than 40% of same-sex couples have formed
legal unions in states where such recognition is available.
Same-sex couples prefer marriage over civil unions or
domestic partnerships. In the first year that marriage was
offered in Massachusetts, 37% of same-sex couples there
married. In states that offered civil unions, only 12% of
same-sex couples took advantage of this status in the first
year and only 10% did so in states with domestic partnership
registries.
 The
Impact of Extending Marriage to Same-Sex Couples on the
California Budget
By Brad Sears and M.V. Lee Badgett
June 2008
This
analysis estimates the impact of allowing same-sex couples
to marry on California's state budget. Using the best data
available, we estimate that
over the next three years, the direct spending from same-sex
couples on weddings and tourism will boost the state economy
by over $683.6 million. This spending will create and
sustain over 2,178 new jobs in California and generate
$63.8 million for
State and local government revenues.
Census Snapshots
This
series of studies written by various Williams Institute
researchers provides state-level demographic and economic information
about same-sex couples and same-sex couples raising children
across the country.
Eventually, the series will include all 50 states,
Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Please
click on one of the following states to read the full
report:
Alaska,
Alabama,
Arizona,
Arkansas,
California,
Colorado,
Connecticut,
Delaware,
District of Columbia,
Florida,
Georgia,
Hawaii,
Idaho,
Illinois,
Indiana,
Iowa,
Kansas,
Kentucky,
Louisiana,
Maine,
Maryland,
Massachusetts,
Michigan,
Minnesota,
Mississippi,
Missouri,
Montana,
Nebraska,
Nevada,
New Hampshire,
New Jersey,
New Mexico,
New York,
New York City,
North Carolina,
North Dakota,
Ohio,
Oklahoma,
Oregon,
Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island,
South Carolina,
South Dakota,
Tennessee,
Texas,
Utah,
Vermont,
Virginia,
Washington,
West Virginia,
Wisconsin,
Wyoming.
Puerto Rico.
The United States.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Recent
Scholarship on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy
Los Angeles Queer Studies Conference
Friday, October 10
UCLA,
Royce Hall, 4:00-5:30pm
Election 2008: A New Administration,
the LGBT Vote,
and Proposition 8
Thursday, November 13
UCLA School of Law
Co-sponsored by The Center for
American Progress
For more information or to RSVP, click
here.
Click
here
to view the Fall 2008 Calendar.
__________
WORKS-IN-PROGRESS SERIES
Gender Identity Rights
David B. Cruz, Professor, USC School of Law
Wednesday, October 29
The Sexual Orientation Gap
in
Labor Force Participation
Rates:
The Role of Children
Michael Steinberger, Public Policy Fellow,
The
Williams Institute
Wednesday, November 5
Living Under the Rainbow:
New Research on Queer Family
Lives
Charlotte Patterson, Professor of Psychology, University
of Virginia
Friday, November 7
__________
Call for Papers
8th Annual Update - The
Global Arc of Justice: Sexual Orientation Law Around the
World,
March 11-14, 2009
__________
THE WILLIAMS
INSTITUTE
IN THE NEWS
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