Why NY Marriage Equality Matters

The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law has issued a press release detailing whay marriage equality is so important to achieve in New York state:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Gary J. Gates, PhD
Williams Distinguished Scholar, Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law
(310) 825-1868 (office), (202) 257-6400 (cell)
Cathy Renna, 917-757-6123, cathy@rennacommunications.com

EXTENDING MARRIAGE TO SAME-SEX COUPLES IN NEW YORK WILL IMPACT OVER 42,000 COUPLES RAISING 14,000 CHILDREN IN THE STATE; DOUBLE PERCENTAGE OF U.S. POPULATION LIVING IN STATES THAT ALLOW SAME-SEX COUPLES TO MARRY

Los Angeles, CA - June 15, 2011 - As the New York legislature approaches a vote on the legalization of marriage for same-sex couples, The Williams Institute, a leading think tank in the field of law and public policy relating to sexual orientation and gender identity, released the following statistics to illustrate the potential impact of the bill’s passage.

●     There are an estimated 42,600 same-sex couples in New York (Source: 2009 American Community Survey), of whom 21% (nearly 9,000) are already legally married (Source: Williams Institute/Harris Interactive Same-sex Couple Survey, 2010)
●     Approximately 7,200 same-sex couples in New York are raising about 14,000 children (Source: 2008/2009 American Community Survey)
●     If New  York extends marriage to same-sex couples, the percentage of the U.S.’ population living in a state that allows same-sex couples to marry will more than double, from 5.1% to 11.4%. (Source: Census 2010)
●     Similarly, the percentage of same-sex couples living in states that allow them to marry will more than double, from 6.9% to 14.3% (Source: 2009 American Community Survey)
●     An estimated 38% of same-sex couples living in states that allow them to marry are currently married, compared to 12% in states that do not allow same-sex couples to marry (Source: Williams Institute/Harris Interactive Same-sex Couple Survey, 2010)

Earlier information on same-sex couples in New York, from the 2000 Census, is available at the link below:

http://www3.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/publications/NYCCensusSnapshot_FINAL.pdf

The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy advances law and public policy through rigorous, independent research and scholarship, and disseminates its work through a variety of education programs and media to judges, legislators, lawyers, other policy makers, and the public. For more information, please visit www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute.