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Black Same-Sex Couple Households in the
2000 U.S. Census: Implications in the Dehate
Over Same-Sex Marriage
ALAIN DANGNATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE, NEW YORK
M . SOMJEN F R A Z E R
CENTER FOR COURT INNOVATION, NEW YORK
Abstract
To help inform the debate ahout the impact of same-sex marriage in the United States, paiticularly on black same-sex couples,
data from the 2000 U.S. Census was analyzed. This study sheds light on the basic demographics of black same-sex couples
nationwide, including residence patterns, parenting rates, educational attainment, employment status, income, and housing.
Anti-same-sex marriage state and federal constitutional amendments will disproportionately affect black same-sex couples
and their families because they are already economically disadvantaged compared to black married opposite-sex couples and
white same-sex couples. Despite these disadvantages, data from the 2000 Census also indicate that black same-sex couples
form stable families. This is demonstrated by parenting rates in black female same-sex households that are nearly equal to tfiat
ofbiack married opposite-sex couples, and that fact that black individuals in same-sex couples aiso report similar rates of
residing in the same residence as they did five years earlier than individuals in married opposite-sex couples.
Introduction
In the November 2004 elections, voters in 10 states
passed state constitutional amendments defining marriage as between one man and one woman (Kershaw.
Connelly & Sanders, 2004). Many of these amendments
may also invalidate existing civil union and domestic
partnership policies, and rescind benefits currently
available to many public sector employees in same-sex
relationships. How do these amendments specifically
affect black same-sex couple families? What do U.S.
Census data tell us about the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender black Americans? To answer
these questions, research on the experiences of black
Americans, gay or straight is briefly reviewed. Data on
Alain Dang it a policy analyst with the
Nutumu! Guy and Lesbian To-ik Force Policv
Institute. Hix research interests include race
unil xe.uuii orienttilian. demography, and direct
mtion organizing. He hoids a B.A. in Social
Ecology from UC Irvine and an M.A. in Urban
Planning from UCLA.
black same-sex couple households from the 2000 U.S.
Census is then summarized, with a particular focus on
how these data shed light on the potential impact of
anti-same-sex marriage amendments, as well as other
anti-gay family policies, on black same-sex couples and
their families.
To help inform the debate on the impact of samesex marriage in the U.S., particularly on black samesex couples, data from the 2000 Census was analyzed.
This study sheds light on the basic demographics of
black same-sex couples nationwide, including residence
patterns, parenting rates, educational attainment, employment status, income, and housing. To understand
M. Sonyen Frazer’s research interrsts
include gender and aextiality. race,
criminology and puhlic health. As a
Rhodes Scholar at O.Mford Utiiversity., she
conjpleled a pnijeci on homiiphohir hate
crime in Britain. She has published
artille.^i on diverse topics including
lesbian health, binge drinking, and
African-American stave rei>arati
