The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law has released a new research study providing demographic and economic information about the more than 4,300 same-sex couples in Utah. The study shows that 19 percent of them are raising an estimated 1,226 children. The study also shows that same-sex couples have economic resources to provide for their families similar to those of heterosexual, married couples.

Key findings

• In 2000, there were 3,370 same-sex couples living in Utah. By 2005, the number of same-sex couples increased to 4,307.

• There are an estimated 53,832 gay, lesbian, and bisexual people (single and coupled) currently living in Utah.

• Same-sex couples live in every county in Utah and constitute 0.7% of coupled households and 0.5% of all households in the state. Salt Lake County reported the most same-sex couples with 1,964 couples (0.67% of all county households), followed by Weber County with 271 couples (0.41%), and Utah County with 270 couples (0.27%). The counties with the highest percentage of same-sex couples are Piute County (0.79% of all county households), Duchesne County (0.77%), and Salt Lake County (0.67%).

• Utah’s same-sex couples are more racially and ethnically diverse than their married counterparts: 16% of same-sex couples are nonwhite, compared to 11% of married couples.

• Despite the military’s historic policies of excluding gay men and lesbians from service, individuals in same-sex couples have served in the military: 7% of individuals in same-sex couples are veterans, compared to 13% of married individuals.

• 19% of same-sex couples in Utah are raising an estimated 1,226 children.

• While 63% of same-sex couples with children own their home, a significantly larger percentage of married parents (81%) own their home.

Same-sex couples are actively engaged in the Utah economy

• Individuals in same-sex couples in Utah are significantly more likely to be employed than are married individuals: 85% of individuals in same-sex couples are employed, compared to 69% of married individuals.

• Contrary to a popular stereotype, the annual earnings of men in same-sex couples are lower than those of married men. On average, men in same-sex couples in Utah earn $37,118 each year, significantly less than $45,414 for married men. The median income of men in same-sex couples in Utah is $30,000, or 19% less than that of married men ($37,000).

• Women in same-sex couples in Utah earn an average of $27,752 per year (with a median of $24,900), more than married women, whose earnings average $20,654 (with a median of $16,900). Women in same-sex couples earn less than married men as well as men in same-sex couples.

Access to the full report is available at:

www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/publications/UtahCensusSnapshot.pdf

The Williams Institute also released a similar Census Snapshot for Arizona, available at: www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/publications/ArizonaCensusSnapshot.pdf.