Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, this report provides demographic and economic information about same-sex couples and same-sex couples raising children in Indiana. We compare same-sex "unmarried partners," which the Census Bureau defines as an unmarried couple who "shares living quarters and has a close personal relationship," to different-sex married couples in Indiana

Adam P. Romero

Clifford J. Rosky

Gary J. Gates

M. V. Lee Badgett

English

Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, this report provides demographic and economic information about same-sex couples and same-sex couples raising children in Indiana. We compare same-sex “unmarried partners,” which the Census Bureau defines as an unmarried couple who “shares living quarters and has a close personal relationship,” to different-sex married couples in Indiana.In many ways, the almost 16,000 same-sex couples living in Indiana are similar to married couples. According to Census 2000, they live throughout the State, are racially and ethnically diverse, have partners who depend upon one another financially, and actively participate in Indiana’s economy. Census data also show that 23% of same-sex couples in Indiana are raising children. However, same-sex couples have fewer economic resources to provide for their families than married couples: they have lower household incomes and lower rates of homeownership

Romero, Adam P

Rosky, Clifford J

Badgett, M.V. Lee

Gates, Gary J

eScholarship - University of California

Census Snapshot: Indiana

IssueLab

INDIANA JANUARY 2008    THE WILLIAMS INSTITUTE  |  CENSUS SNAPSHOT  |  INDIANA  |  JANUARY 2008       Adam P. Romero, Public Policy Fellow Clifford J. Rosky, Research Fellow M.V. Lee Badgett, Research Director Gary J. Gates, Senior Research Fellow   Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, this report provides demographic and economic information about same-sex couples and same-sex couples raising children in Indiana. We compare same-sex “unmarried partners,” which the Census Bureau defines as an unmarried couple who “shares living quarters and has a close personal relationship,” to different-sex married couples in Indiana.1         In many ways, the almost 16,000 same-sex couples living in Indiana are similar to married couples. According to Census 2000, they live throughout the State, are racially and ethnically diverse, have partners who depend upon one another financially, and actively participate in Indiana’s economy. Census data also show that 23% of same-sex couples in Indiana are raising children. However, same-sex couples have fewer economic resources to provide for their families than married couples: they have lower household incomes and lower rates of homeownership.         SAME-SEX COUPLES AND THE LGB POPULATION IN INDIANA  • In 2000, there were 10,219 same-sex couples living in Indiana.2   • By 2005, the number of same-sex couples increased to 15,714.3 This increase likely reflects same-sex couples’ growing willingness to disclose their partnerships on government surveys.  • In 2005, there were an estimated 169,700 gay, lesbian, and bisexual people (single and coupled) living in Indiana.4  INDIVIDUALS IN SAME-SEX COUPLES ARE DEMOGRAPHICALLY AND GEOGRAPHICALLY DIVERSE  • There are more female same-sex couples (51%) than male same-sex couples (49%) in Indiana.5  • Individuals in same-sex couples are, on average, 39 years old, and significantly younger than individuals in married couples (47 years old) in Indiana.   • Same-sex couples live in every county in Indiana and constitute 0.7% of coupled households and 0.4% of all households in the state. Marion County reported the most same-sex couples with 2,423 couples (0.69% of all households in the county), followed by Lake County with 630 couples (0.35%), and Allen County with 572 couples (0.44%). The counties with the highest percentage of same-sex couples are Monroe County (0.74% of all county households), Marion County (0.69%), and Brown County (0.66%).6  • Indiana’s same-sex couples are more racially and ethnically diverse than their married counterparts: 12% of same-sex couples are nonwhite, compared to 9% of married couples.  PEOPLE IN SAME-SEX COUPLES ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE STATE ECONOMY   • Individuals in same-sex couples in Indiana are significantly more likely to be employed than are married individuals: 77% of individuals in same- sex couples are employed, compared to 68% of married individuals.  1                3 3 THE WILLIAMS INSTITUTE  |  CENSUS SNAPSHOT  |  INDIANA  |  JANUARY 2008 2 • 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 Indiana earn $28,518 each year, significantly less than $45,936 for married men. The median income of men in same-sex couples in Indiana is $25,000, or 34% less than that of married men ($38,000).    • Women in same-sex couples in Indiana earn an average of $29,608 per year (with a median of $26,000), more than married women, whose earnings average $23,239 (with a median of $29,000). Women in same-sex couples earn less than married men but more than men in same-sex couples.   Average Individual Earnings$28,518 $29,608$45,936$23,239Male FemaleSame-Sex Married   • Individuals in same-sex couples in Indiana are more likely to work in the private sector: 80% of individuals in same-sex couples work in the private sector, compared to 77% of married individuals; 14% of individuals in same-sex couples work in the public sector, compared to 12% of married individuals; and 6% of individuals in same-sex couples are self-employed, compared to 10% of married individuals.  • Individuals in same-sex couples are more likely to have a college degree: 29% of individuals in same-sex couples and 21% of married individuals have earned a college degree.  • 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.  SAME-SEX PARTNERS IN INDIANA DEPEND UPON ONE ANOTHER IN WAYS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO MARRIED COUPLES    • Couples in which one partner does not work or earns significantly less than the other partner may indicate financial interdependence. 24% of same-sex couples have only one wage earner, compared to 30% of married couples. • The income gap between same-sex partners is $17,432, compared to $27,624 for married spouses.  • A larger percentage of same-sex couples in Indiana have at least one partner who is disabled: 31% of same-sex couples, compared to 29% of married couples.  • 6% of same-sex couples have at least one partner who is age 65 or older, compared to 18% of married couples.  SAME-SEX HOUSEHOLDS IN INDIANA HAVE FEWER ECONOMIC RESOURCES THAN MARRIED HOUSEHOLDS  • The median income of same-sex coupled households in Indiana is $53,700, less than that of married couples ($56,000). The average household income of same-sex couples is $61,760, less than $67,637 for married couples.  Household Incomes$53,700$61,760$56,000$67,637Median MeanSame-Sex Married   • Same-sex couples are significantly less likely than married couples to own their homes: 63% of same-sex couples in Indiana own their home, compared to 86% of married couples.  SAME-SEX COUPLES ARE RAISING CHILDREN IN INDIANA, YET WITH FAR FEWER ECONOMIC RESOURCES THAN MARRIED PARENTS  • 23% of same-sex couples in Indiana are raising children under the age of 18.  • As of 2005, an estimated 5,369 of Indiana’s children are living in households headed by same-sex couples.7  • In Indiana, married and same-sex couples with children under 18 in the home have, on average, 2 children.   • 2% of Indiana’s adopted children (or 725 children) live with a lesbian or gay parent.8  • 36% of same-sex parents have only one wage earner, compared to 32% of married parents.                                                    3 3 THE WILLIAMS INSTITUTE  |  CENSUS SNAPSHOT  |  INDIANA  |  JANUARY 2008 3              • Same-sex parents have far fewer financial resources to support their children than married parents in Indiana.  The median household income of same-sex couples with children is $50,830, or 14% lower than that of married parents ($59,100). The average household income of same-sex couples with children is $63,032, less than $69,853 for married parents.   • While 66% of same-sex couples with children own their home, a much larger percentage of married parents (83%) own their home.  Household (With Children) Incomes$50,830$63,032$59,100$69,853Median MeanSame-Sex MarriedCONCLUSION  Census data provide valuable information about gay and lesbian couples in Indiana. While in many respects Indiana’s same-sex couples look like married couples, same-sex couples have fewer economic resources to provide for their families than married couples and lower rates of homeownership.    Table One: Characteristics of individuals in couples  Same-Sex Married Race/Ethnicity9       White 88.1% 91.4%*      Black 7.5% 4.3%*      Hispanic 2.7% 2.5%      Asian 0.5% 1.0%      American Indian/Alaskan Native 0.7% 0.2%^      Other 0.5% 0.7% Average age 38.6 47.5* Percent with a college degree or better 29.4% 21.2%* Percent Employed 76.8% 68.1%* Employment9        Private employer 79.7% 77.1%      Public employer 14.2% 12.2%      Self-employed 5.8% 10.4%* Veteran Status 9.0% 16.2%* Average individual salary        Men $28,518 $45,936*      Women $29,608 $23,239* Median individual salary        Men $25,000 $38,000      Women $26,000 $20,000 * Difference significant at the 5% level or better (two-tailed tests). ^ Difference significant at the 10% level or better (two-tailed tests).  Table Two: Characteristics of couples  Same-Sex Married At least one partner 65 or older 6.5% 17.8%* Percent disabled 31.4% 28.8% Average household income $61,760 $67,637^ Median household income $53,700 $56,000 Income gap between partners $17,432 $27,624* Single wage earner 23.6% 29.7%* Homeownership 63.5% 86.1%* Percent with children under 18 23.5% 46.8%* * Difference significant at the 5% level or better (two-tailed tests). ^ Difference significant at the 10% level or better (two-tailed tests). Table Three: Characteristics of couples with children  Same-Sex parents Married parents Average number of children under 18 in the household 1.5 1.9* Single wage earner (parents) 35.6% 32.2% Average household income (parents) $63,032 $69,853 Median household income (parents) $50,830 $59,100 Homeownership 65.6% 83.2%* * Difference significant at the 5% level or better (two-tailed tests). ^ Difference significant at the 10% level or better (two-tailed tests).    3 3 THE WILLIAMS INSTITUTE  |  CENSUS SNAPSHOT  |  INDIANA  |  JANUARY 2008 4    Appendix A: Counts and percent of same-sex couples by county  County Number of same-sex couples Percent of same-sex couples out of all households Adams 33 0.28% Allen 572 0.44% Bartholomew 100 0.36% Benton 16 0.45% Blackford 21 0.37% Boone 73 0.43% Brown 39 0.66% Carroll 20 0.26% Cass 59 0.38% Clark 182 0.47% Clay 26 0.25% Clinton 48 0.38% Crawford 21 0.50% Daviess 39 0.36% Dearborn 59 0.35% Decatur 21 0.22% DeKalb 55 0.36% Delaware 210 0.45% Dubois 31 0.21% Elkhart 228 0.34% Fayette 47 0.46% Floyd 136 0.49% Fountain 27 0.38% Franklin 32 0.41% Fulton 27 0.33% Gibson 41 0.32% Grant 108 0.38% Greene 46 0.34% Hamilton 239 0.36% Hancock 64 0.31% Harrison 53 0.41% Hendricks 142 0.38% Henry 62 0.32% Howard 120 0.34% Huntington 39 0.27% Jackson 68 0.42% Jasper 30 0.28% Jay 33 0.39% Jefferson 40 0.33% Jennings 37 0.37% Johnson 168 0.40% Knox 66 0.42% Kosciusko 110 0.40% LaGrange 33 0.29% Lake 630 0.35% LaPorte 181 0.44% Lawrence 71 0.38% Madison 217 0.41%  County Number of same-sex couples Percent of same-sex couples out of all households Marion 2423 0.69% Marshall 70 0.42% Martin 14 0.33% Miami 52 0.38% Monroe 345 0.74% Montgomery 56 0.38% Morgan 107 0.44% Newton 13 0.24% Noble 77 0.46% Ohio 5 0.23% Orange 17 0.22% Owen 32 0.39% Parke 27 0.42% Perry 20 0.28% Pike 10 0.20% Porter 206 0.38% Posey 32 0.31% Pulaski 16 0.31% Putnam 42 0.34% Randolph 36 0.33% Ripley 40 0.41% Rush 22 0.32% Scott 49 0.55% Shelby 61 0.37% Spencer 23 0.30% St. Joseph 422 0.42% Starke 32 0.37% Steuben 43 0.34% Sullivan 23 0.29% Switzerland 15 0.44% Tippecanoe 230 0.42% Tipton 30 0.46% Union 6 0.21% Vanderburgh 301 0.43% Vermillion 15 0.22% Vigo 158 0.39% Wabash 50 0.38% Warren 21 0.65% Warrick 66 0.34% Washington 39 0.38% Wayne 122 0.43% Wells 21 0.20% White 60 0.62% Whitley 50 0.43%   3 3 THE WILLIAMS INSTITUTE  |  CENSUS SNAPSHOT  |  INDIANA  |  JANUARY 2008 5  About the Authors  Adam P. Romero is Public Policy Fellow at the Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law. J.D. Yale Law School; A.B., summa cum laude, Cornell University. His current research examines the significance of family in society and law, especially as relevant to disabled adults without family.  Clifford J. Rosky is Research Fellow at the Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law. J.D. Yale Law School; B.A., summa cum laude, Amherst College. His current research examines the significance of gender in family law cases involving lesbian and gay parents.  M.V. Lee Badgett is Research Director at the Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, and Director of the Center for Public Policy and Administration at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she is also on the faculty of the Department of Economics. She studies family policy and employment discrimination related to sexual orientation.   Gary J. Gates is Senior Research Fellow at the Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law. He studies the demographic and economic characteristics of the lesbian and gay population.     1 Unless otherwise noted, we calculate the demographic characteristics from the Census 2000 Public Use Microdata Sample (5% file) available from the U.S. Census Bureau. For a detailed discussion of the Census 2000 methodology used in this report, see Census Snapshot: Methods Note, available at http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/ publications/MethodologicalDetailsForCensusSnapshots.pdf. In estimating numbers of same-sex couples and children raised by same-sex couples, however, we use the total number of same-sex couples from 2005 and the proportion of couples with children from 2000 in order to provide a more up-to-date estimate.  2 Tavia Simmons & Martin O’Connell, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Married-Couple and Unmarried-Partner Households, Census 2000 Special Reports, CENSR-5, p. 4, tab. 2 (Feb. 2003). 3 Gary J. Gates, The Williams Institute, Same-sex Couples and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Population: New Estimates from the American Community Survey, p. 11, apx. 1, available at http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/publicat ions/SameSexCouplesandGLBpopACS.pdf. Sample sizes for individual states in 2005 are not sufficiently large for the analyses presented in this report, we therefore use data from Census 2000 where samples are on average five times larger than 2005. 4 Id. 5 Simmons & O’Connell, supra note 2.  6 U.S. Census Bureau, Unmarried Partner Households by Sex of Partners, PCT14. Percentages of total households computed by dividing data in PCT14 by data in P15 (total households). 7 Computed by multiplying the number of same-sex couples times the percent of same-sex couples with children times the average number of children under 18 in the household. 8 Gary J. Gates, M.V. Lee Badgett, Kate Chambers, Jennifer Macomber, The Williams Institute & The Urban Institute, Adoption and Foster Care by Gay and Lesbian Parents in the United States (2007), available at http://www.law.ucla.edu/Williamsinstitute/publications/Policy-Adoption-index.html. 9 Due to rounding, percent may not add to 100.      For more information, contact: The Williams Institute UCLA School of Law Box 951476 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1476 T (310)267-4382 F (310)825-7270 williamsinstitute@law.ucla.edu www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute 

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Census Snapshot: Indiana

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