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UCLA’S WILLIAMS INSTITUTE RELEASES NEW STUDY ANALYZING CENSUS DATA ON SAME-SEX COUPLES IN KENTUCKY: MORE THAN 9,700 COUPLES LIVE THROUGHOUT STATE; RAISING AN ESTIMATED 2,500 CHILDREN
 

Press Release
For Immediate Release

June 19, 2008

Media Contacts:
Gary Gates (310)825-1868/gates@law.ucla.edu

Adam Romero (310)206-0725/romero@law.ucla.edu

LOS ANGELES - Today, the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law released a new research study providing demographic and economic information about the more than 9,700 same-sex couples in Kentucky. The study shows that 15% of the same-sex couples in Kentucky are raising an estimated 2,469 children. The study also shows that same-sex couples with children have fewer economic resources to provide for their families than do married parents and lower rates of homeownership.

The full report may be found at: http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/publications/KentuckyCensusSnapshot.pdf

KEY FINDINGS INCLUDE:

·         In 2000, there were 7,114 same-sex couples living in Kentucky. By 2005, the number of same-sex couples increased to 9,710.

·         There are an estimated 106,094 gay, lesbian, and bisexual people (single and coupled) currently living in Kentucky.

·         Same-sex couples live in every county in Kentucky and constitute 0.8% of coupled households and 0.4% of all households in the state. Jefferson County reported the most same-sex couples with 1,514 couples (0.53% of all county households), followed by Fayette County with 757 couples (0.70%), and Kenton County with 292 couples (0.49%). The counties with the highest percentage of same-sex couples are Lyon County (0.97% of all county households), Lewis County (0.81%), and Menifee County (0.75%).

·         Kentucky’s same-sex couples are more racially and ethnically diverse than their married counterparts: 8% of individuals in same-sex couples are nonwhite, compared to 6% of married individuals.

·         Despite the military’s historic policies of excluding gay men and lesbians from service, individuals in same-sex couples have served in the military: 9% of individuals in same-sex couples are veterans, compared to 16% of married individuals.

KENTUCKY’S SAME-SEX COUPLES ARE RAISING CHILDREN BUT WITH FEWER ECONOMIC RESOURCES THAN MARRIED PARENTS

·         As of 2005, an estimated 2,469 of Kentucky’s children were living in households headed by same-sex couples.

·         The median household income of same-sex couples with children is $32,000, or 35% lower than that of married parents ($49,540). The average household income of same-sex couples with children is $49,939, less than that of married parents ($59,581).

·         While 54% of same-sex couples with children own their home, a significantly larger percentage of married parents (80%) own their home.

SAME-SEX COUPLES ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE KENTUCKY ECONOMY

·         Individuals in same-sex couples in Kentucky are significantly more likely to be employed than married individuals: 72% of individuals in same-sex couples are employed, compared to 62% of married individuals.

·         Contrary to a popular stereotype, the annual earnings of men in same-sex couples are significantly lower than those of married men. On average, men in same-sex couples in Kentucky earn $32,441 each year, significantly less than $41,256 for married men. The median income of men in same-sex couples in Kentucky is $31,000, or 6% less than that of married men ($33,000). 

·         Women in same-sex couples in Kentucky earn an average of $27,731 per year (with a median of $23,000), more than married women, whose earnings average $21,701 (with a median of $18,000). Women in same-sex couples earn less than married men as well as men in same-sex couples.

Census Snapshots for other states are available at http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/publications/Policy-Census-index.html.

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