Census: 600,000 Same-Sex Couples

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Wednesday August 22 08:23 PM EDT (via Yahoo)

Census finds 600,000 same-sex couples

By Tom Musbach, Gay.com / PlanetOut.com Network


Census figures show there are more than 600,000 households headed by
same-sex partners in nearly every county of the United States, according to
a preliminary report.

The report, a comprehensive analysis of the census data issued by the Human
Rights Campaign, totals 601,209 same-sex households, up 314 percent from
145,130 in the 1990 census figures. The households were found in 93.3
percent of all counties in America.

The report's numbers reflect data collected from all 50 states, the District
of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

"The census figures will change the debate for many Americans -- from an
abstract controversy read about in newspapers or seen in noisy debates on
television to a discussion about real families, real people and real lives,"
said David M. Smith, HRC's communications director.

Of the total number of same-sex families, 304,148 registered as gay male
couples, and 297,061 registered as lesbian. These households comprise less
than 1 percent of the nation's 105.5 million homes.

California, New York, Texas and Florida led the country in total number of
same-sex unmarried partner households, according to the report. California
tallied 92,138, and New York had 46,490. Texas and Florida totals were
42,912 and 41,048, respectively.

Among cities, San Francisco, Washington and New York had the highest
concentrations of same-sex partner households.

The HRC analysis suggested that reported totals are lower than actual
totals, estimating that gay and lesbian families may have been undercounted
by as much as 62 percent.

"While the rise in couples suggests extraordinary progress, we believe the
census continues to undercount same-sex partners because many people are
still not comfortable answering in a federal survey about their sexual
orientation," Smith said.
 
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