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Press Release
For Immediate Release

April 16, 2008

Media Contacts:
Adam Romero (310)206-0725 / romero@law.ucla.edu
Gary Gates (310)825-1868 / gates@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 1,000 same-sex couples in Wyoming. The study shows that 20% of the same-sex couples in Wyoming are raising an estimated 501 children. The study also shows that same-sex couples, especially those with children, have fewer economic resources to provide for their families than their married counterparts: they have lower household incomes and lower rates of homeownership.

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

KEY FINDINGS INCLUDE:
• In 2000, there were 807 same-sex couples living in Wyoming. By 2005, the number of same-sex couples increased to 1,044.
• There are an estimated 11,419 gay, lesbian, and bisexual people (single and coupled) currently living in Wyoming.
• Same-sex couples live in every county in Wyoming and constitute 0.7% of coupled households and 0.4% of all households in the state. Natrona County reported the most same-sex couples with 132 couples (0.49% of all households in the county), followed by Laramie County with 94 couples (0.29%), and Fremont County with 88 couples (0.65%). The counties with the highest percentage of same-sex couples are Niobrara County (0.69% of all county households), Fremont County (0.65%), Carbon County (0.62%), and Crook County (0.61%).
• Wyoming’s same-sex couples are more racially and ethnically diverse than their married counterparts: 18% of individuals in same-sex couples are nonwhite, compared to 8% 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: 8% of individuals in same-sex couples are veterans, compared to 18% of married individuals.

WYOMING’S SAME-SEX COUPLES ARE RAISING CHILDREN WITH FEWER ECONOMIC RESOURCES THAN MARRIED PARENTS
• Same-sex parents have far fewer financial resources to support their children than married parents in Wyoming. The median household income of same-sex couples with children is $33,700, or 35% lower than that of married parents ($51,840). The average household income of same-sex couples with children is $31,318, significantly less than $60,912 for married parents.

SAME-SEX COUPLES ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE WYOMING ECONOMY
• 60% of individuals in same-sex couples are employed, compared to 68% of married individuals.
• Contrary to a popular stereotype, the annual earnings of individuals in same-sex couples are significantly lower than those of married individuals. On average, men in same-sex couples in Wyoming earn $29,500 each year, significantly less than $40,764 for married men. The median income of men in same-sex couples in Wyoming is $29,500, or 16% less than that of married men ($35,000).
• Women in same-sex couples in Wyoming earn an average of $11,306 per year, significantly less than $18,419 for married women. The median income of women in same-sex couples is $10,000, or 33% less than that of married women ($15,000).

The Williams Institute also released today similar Census Snapshots for Idaho and Montana, which are available at http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/publications/Policy-Census-index.html. 

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