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UCLA’S WILLIAMS INSTITUTE
RELEASES NEW STUDY ANALYZING
CENSUS DATA ON SAME-SEX COUPLES
IN MAINE: MORE THAN 4,800
COUPLES LIVE THROUGHOUT STATE;
RAISING AN ESTIMATED 1,200
CHILDREN
Press Release June 19, 2008
Media Contacts:
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 4,800 same-sex couples in Maine. The study shows that 16% of the same-sex couples in Maine are raising an estimated 1,228 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/MaineCensusSnapshot.pdf KEY FINDINGS INCLUDE: · In 2000, there were 3,394 same-sex couples living in Maine. By 2005, the number of same-sex couples increased to 4,847. · There are an estimated 52,801 gay, lesbian, and bisexual people (single and coupled) currently living in Maine. · Same-sex couples live in every county in Maine and constitute 1.1% of coupled households and 0.7% of all households in the state. Cumberland County reported the most same-sex couples with 944 couples (0.87% of all county households), followed by York County with 547 couples (0.73%), and Penobscot County with 320 couples (0.55%). The counties with the highest percentage of same-sex couples are Cumberland County (0.87% of all county households), York County (0.73%), Washington County (0.72%), and Sagadahoc County (0.69%). · Maine’s same-sex couples are significantly more racially and ethnically diverse than their married counterparts: 8% of individuals in same-sex couples are nonwhite, compared with 2% 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: 12% of individuals in same-sex couples are veterans, compared to 19% of married individuals.
MAINE’S SAME-SEX
COUPLES ARE RAISING CHILDREN BUT
WITH FEWER ECONOMIC RESOURCES
THAN MARRIED PARENTS · The median household income of same-sex couples with children is $38,100, or 30% lower than that of married parents ($54,600). The average household income of same-sex couples with children is $45,089, significantly less than $64,965 for married parents. · While 44% of same-sex couples with children own their home, a significantly larger percentage of married parents (86%) own their home. SAME-SEX COUPLES ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE MAINE ECONOMY · Individuals in same-sex couples in Maine are significantly more likely to be employed than married individuals: 81% of individuals in same- sex couples are employed, compared to 68% 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 Maine earn $31,601 each year, significantly less than $41,012 for married men. The median income of men in same-sex couples in Maine is $24,000, or 26% less than that of married men ($32,500). · Women in same-sex couples in Maine earn an average of $29,558 per year (with a median of $30,000), more than married women, whose earnings average $21,642 (with a median of $18,500). Women in same-sex couples earn less than married men. Census Snapshots for other states are available at http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/publications/Policy-Census-index.html.
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