Bi-National Same-Sex Unmarried Partners In Census 2000: A Demographic Portrait

While current United States immigration policy is based primarily on family reunification, it does not provide any rights for unmarried partners of citizens. In order to inform current legislative debates about expanding the policy of family reunification to include same-sex couples, this report provides a demographic and geographic portrait of bi-national same-sex "unmarried partners" from Census 2000.Key findings of this report include:Approximately 35,820 of the 594,391 same-sex unmarried partner couples (6%) counted in Census 2000 are bi-national couples.A larger percentage of same-sex couples (6%) than different-sex unmarried (5.2%) or married (4.6%) couples are bi-national. If the Uniting American Families Act were to pass and same-sex couples behaved as their married counterparts, then approximately 8,500 same-sex couples would likely seek immigration rights for the non-citizen partner.Mexico is the home country for 30% (10,766) of the non-citizens in same-sex bi-national couples, compared with 38% of all non-citizens in the United States. Canada, the second highest country of origin, is home to 6% (2,159) of the non-citizen partners in same-sex bi-national couples, followed by El Salvador, Germany, and the Philippines.Thirty-six percent of bi-national same-sex couples are comprised of a foreign born non-citizen and a foreign born citizen. The non-citizen and citizen in 82% of these couples share the same country of origin. In short, over 30% of all bi-national same-sex couples in the U.S. are comprised of partners who were both born in the same foreign country. (Fourteen percent of all bi-national same-sex couples in the U.S. are comprised of partners who were both born in Mexico.)California ranks first in the total number of same-sex bi-national couples. Nearly 30% of same-sex bi-national couples in the United States, more than 10,000 such couples, live in California.In 79% of bi-national same-sex couples, the non-citizen partner comes from a country that does not provide immigration rights to unmarried couples. For these couples, neither partner lives in a county that will allow the other partner to immigrate based on their relationship.Among bi-national couples, more than a third of same-sex male couples and 58% of female same-sex couples report having children under age 18 in the home.Children under age 18 being raised by bi-national same-sex couples are less likely to be citizens than children being raised by bi-national married couples. Ninety percent of children of bi-national married couples are citizens, compared with 83% of bi-national male-male couples and 87% of bi-national female-female couples.Same-sex bi-national couples are more likely to have been together at least five years (28% of male couples and 30% of female couples) than their different-sex unmarried counterparts (17%), but less likely to have been together five years than bi-national married couples (41%)

Testimony Submitted to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: The Uniting American Families Act, Addressing Inequality in Federal Immigration Law

A large body of research has shown that same-sex "unmarried partners" identified in the U.S. Census are primarily composed of lesbian and gay couples. The Census includes questions about citizenship status and country of origin and offers valuable information about same-sex couples who may be affected by UAFA. A 2005 report entitled "Bi-national Same-sex Unmarried Partners in Census 2000: A Demographic Portrait" provides important information about the size and demographic characteristics of bi-national same-sex couples where one partner is a U.S. citizen and the other is not. This testimony summarizes the key findings from that report

Same-Sex Couples and Immigration in the United States

This report uses Census Bureau data to provide a portrait of same-sex couples affected by United States immigration policy. Using data from the American Community Survey (ACS) it presents demographic profiles of three different types of same-sex couples: binational couples in which one partner is a U.S. citizen and one is not; dual non-citizen couples; and couples that include a naturalized U.S. citizen. Binational couples and non-citizen couples in which only one partner is a permanent resident would gain protections and rights if U.S. immigration law were changed to treat same-sex couples as their different-sex counterparts are treated. As of 2010, nearly 79,200 same-sex couples living in the United States include at least one partner who is currently not a U.S citizen or was naturalized as a citizen. Of the nearly 650,000 same-sex couples in the US: 4.4% or 28,574 are binational couples (one partner is a U.S. citizen and one is not)1.8% or 11,442 are dual non-citizen couples6.1% or 39,176 are dual citizen couples with at least one naturalized partne

LGBT Identity: A Demographer\u27s Perspective

In a recent study, the Author of this Article estimated that the self-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community makes up 3.8 percent of the American population. The Author’s estimate was far lower than many scholars and activists had contended, and it included a relatively high proportion of persons self-identifying as bisexuals. This Article responds to two of the central criticisms that arose in the controversy that followed. First, in response to claims that his estimate did not account for people who are in the closet, the Author describes how demographers might measure the size of the closet. Second, in response to those who either ignored the reported large incidence of bisexuality or misconstrued the meaning of that incidence, the Author considers how varying frameworks for conceptualizing sexual orientation might alter the ratio of lesbian or gay individuals to bisexuals. This Article goes on to offer observations about the challenges and implications that are associated with the varying estimates of the size of the LGBT population. And it concludes by arguing that, today, the size of the LGBT community is less important than understanding the struggles of its members and informing crucial policy debates with facts rather than stereotype and anecdote

Marriage, Registration and Dissolution by Same-Sex Couples in the U.S.

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 registrie

Census Snapshot: California's Latino/Latina LGB Population

This study provides demographic and economic information for the more than 200,000 LGB Latino/a individuals and 52,410 Latinos/as in same-sex couples living in California. The study shows that nearly half of Latinas and 44% of Latinos in same-sex couples in California are raising nearly 25,000 children. Other key findings include more than 12% of the nation's Latinos/as in same-sex couples live in California, home to the largest number of Latino/as in same-sex couples among all states and LGB Latinos/as having similar citizenship rates as their heterosexual counterparts; however, LGB Latinos/as are more likely to be citizens by birth as opposed to naturalization

Census Snapshot: California Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Population

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

Census Snapshot: California's Asian/Pacific Islander LGB Population

This report provides a general overview of Asian and Pacific Islanders (API) in same-sex couples as well as the broader API lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) population in California. Key findings include more than 66,000 Asians and Pacific Islanders in California identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual and more than 14,500 APIs are part of a same-sex couple; over 34% of APIs in same-sex couples in California are of Filipino descent; nearly a third (31%) of API women and 21% of API men within same-sex couples are raising children; API same-sex parents have fewer financial resources to support their children than those in married couples, with an average household income of $96,290 compared to$109,091 for APIs in different-sex married couples

Census Snapshot: California's Black LGB Population

This report provides a general overview of Black individuals in same-sex couples as well as the broader Black lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) population in California. Key findings include an estimated 55,000 Black lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals live in California along with approximately 7,400 Black men and women in same-sex couples in the state; just under 9% of all Black men and women in same-sex couples in the United States live in California, second only to New York as the state with the most Black people in same-sex couples; almost 55% of Black women and 11% of Black men in same-sex couples are raising children; and, Black same-sex parents have fewer financial resources to support their children than those in married couples, with a median household income of $60,900 compared to$76,000 for Black people in different-sex married couples