What is same sex marriage? 10+ Gay Marriage Statistics (2021)

Dec 29, 2020

With the monumental decision of Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court decided to legalize same-sex marriages in the Us. The fight for gay rights and gay marriage has been a long and rigorous one. Throughout the years, more and more people have become accepting of gay people in the US.

Below you'll find facts about gay marriage, divorce rates among same-sex couples, and a brief timeline leading up to the 2015 Supreme court decision.

Article Contents

Same-Sex Marriage Statistics: What is Same-Sex Marriage and Why is it an Issue?

Gay Marriage in the United States Statistics: How Many Same-Sex Marriages in the US?

Gay Marriage Divorce Rate: What is the Gay vs. Straight Divorce Rate?

The issue of same-sex marriage has been bought up multiple times throughout US history. After the 2015 Supreme Court ruling, there are more than half a million households that are made up of same-sex couples. Same-sex couples are made up of many different people from many different walks of life and now can enjoy the same rights and protections as opposite-sex married couples.

Statistics (Editors Picks)

There are more than half a million households that are made up of same-sex married couples
Same-sex married households have increased by almost 70%
In 2001 the Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage.
In 2004 Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage.
In 2015 the monumental case of Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court makes same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states.
Male same-sex marriages failed at a rate of 15% in comparison to lesbian same-sex marriages failing at 30%
LGBT couples were happier in their relationships compared to heterosexual couples same-sex marriage divorce rates have been documented since 2005. The amount of couples marrying have been increasing and reflecting the growth of the same-sex population
Researchers found that living in a state that had same-sex marriage outlawed lead to chronic social stress and mental health problems.

Same-Sex Marriage Statistics:

What is Same-Sex Marriage and Why is It an Issue?

Same-sex marriage, or gay marriage, is the marriage of two individuals of the same sex or gender. This is a deep rooted issue that has been a topic of debate for quite some time due to laws, relgion, and cultural customs.

Since the legalization of same-sex marriage, households with same-sex married couples have increased by 70%. To put that into perspective, more than half a million households are made up of same-sex couples. 2 in 3 adults (or about 67%) of the population agree that same-sex marriage should be legalized in the US. In 1996, only about 27% of the population backed the idea of same-sex marriage. Now, in 2020, that number has risen to more than 60%. One of the factors in why the spike in acceptance was the Supreme Court's decision to allow same-sex marriage. Also, primetime network television has been showing gay characters and humanizing them to the general population. “Rosanne” featured a same-sex wedding in 1995, The show “Friends” featured a lesbian wedding in 1996.

Key Statistics:

There are more than half a million households that are made up of same-sex married couples
Same-sex married households have increased by almost 70%
In 2001 the Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage.
In 2004 Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage.
Same-Sex married couples had a higher average household income of $107,210 compared to opposite-sex married couples with $96,932.
Researchers found that living in a state that had same-sex marriage outlawed lead to chronic social stress and mental health problems.
67% (or 2 in 3 adults) say that same-sex marriage should be legal
In 1996 only 27% of Americans backed same-sex marriage. As of 2020, it has climbed over 40 points.
Research shows that there is no scientific reason to deny same-sex marriage
Same-Sex marriage wasn’t legal until the 2000s, however popular 90s TV shows showed same-sex couples were being married on TV. “Rosanne” featured a same-sex marriage in 1995 and “Friends” featured a lesbian wedding in 1996.

Gay Marriage in the United States Statistics

How Many Same-Sex Marriages Are in the US?

Photo Credit: Thomas Curryer on Unsplash

In the United States, there are more than half a million households that are made up of same-sex married couples.

The issue with same-sex marriages in the US has been a long and debated subject that has been brought up in the courts many times. In 1983, a car accident involving a lesbian couple brought up the issue of “spousal rights” and what it means for two people to be married and have the same protections as opposite-sex married couples. Below, you’ll be able to read a brief timeline on the issues that were brought up during the fight for same-sex marriages in the US.

Key Dates:

1970 - In Minnesota, a same-sex couple applies for a marriage license. After being denied, their case goes to the supreme court.

1973 - Maryland is the first state to ban same-sex marriage

1983 - The issue of ‘spousal rights’ of same-sex couples is brought up after a lesbian couple brings the issue up when one of them is in a car accident and the other was denied the right to care for her.

1992 - Levi Strauss & Co and the State of Massachusetts begin to give same-sex employees partner benefits.

1993 - The Hawaii Supreme Court rules that same-sex marriages cannot be denied unless there is a "compelling" reason to do so - Hawaii legislators respond by passing an amendment to ban gay marriage

1993 - The Supreme Court of Hawaii ruled that same-sex marriages cannot be denied unless there’s a “compelling” reason. The legislators of Hawaii pass an amendment to ban gay marriage.

1996 - DOMA is signed by President Clinton

2004 - The city of San Francisco begins marrying same-sex couples in an open challenge to CA law and New Mexico begins issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples as their law does not mention gender

2004 - In an open challenge to CA law, the city of San Francisco began marrying same-sex married couples. New Mexico had no law mentioning gender and began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

2005 - A state judge of New York calls the state ban if same-sex marriage illegal. Connecticut is the second state to approve same-sex unions. Legislation in California tries to pass a law legalizing same-sex unions but is vetoed by Governor Swarzenegger.

2010 -The 2008 voter-passed ban on same-sex marriage in California known as prop 8 is declared unconstitutional.

2011 - President Obama declares DOMA unconstitutional. New York legalizes same-sex marriage.

2012 - Prop 8 is found unconstitutional by the Ninth Circuit. By popular vote, the state of Washington, Maine, and, Maryland legalize same-sex marriage

2015 - In the monumental case of Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court makes same-sex marriages legal in all 50 states.

In a fitting quote from that decision:

“No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization's oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.”

Sources:
https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-gay-rights
https://www.pewresearch.org/topics/gay-marriage-and-homosexuality/
https://guides.ll.georgetown.edu/c.php?g=592919&p=4182201

Gay Marriage Divorce Rates

What is the Gay vs. Straight Divorce Rate?

Photo Credit: Sarah Kilian on Unsplash

Male same-sex marriages fail at a rate of 15% and lesbian same-sex marriages fail at a rate of 30%, compared to the 18% failure rate of heterosexual couples.

Since being able to get married, same-sex couples have now joined the data pool for marriage statistics and divorce rates. How do same-sex couples differ from opposite-couples in divorce rates? According to a 10-year study, it was found that lesbian couples divorced at a rate of 30%. Heterosexual couples divorced at a rate of 18% and gay men divorced at a rate of 15%. One of the theories of such a high divorce rate among lesbian couples is that they could be moving too quickly in their relationships in comparison to heterosexual and gay couples. Also, not putting up with infidelity and irreconcilable differences could also be factored into the high divorce rate. Though lesbian divorce rates are higher than the rest, it's not all bad for the LGBT community. Studies have shown that same-sex couples are happier in their relationships compared to heterosexual couples.

Key Statistics:

A 10-year study following married couples found that lesbian couples were more likely to get divorced. Out of 580 lesbian couples that were married in 2005, 30% were divorced 10 years later in comparison to 18% of heterosexual couples and 15% of gay couples.
Male same-sex marriages failed at a rate of 15% in comparison to lesbian same-sex marriages failing at 30%
LGBT couples were happier in their relationships compared to heterosexual couples same-sex marriage divorce rates have been documented since 2005. The amount of couples marrying have been increasing and reflecting the growth of the same-sex population.

Sources:
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/10/lesbian-divorce-same-sex-marriage-gay-men-lisa-power-ayesha-vardag/

Conclusion

Studies have shown that people have warmed up and have become more accepting of same-sex couples over the years. Music, culture, and popular media have changed the way people see same-sex couples. Even before same-marriage was legal, highly rated primetime shows like Friends and Rosane showed same-sex marriages on TV and helped normalized the subject to the general public. Now, same-sex couples have the ability to happily get married and enjoy the same rights and protections they have fought so hard to obtain.

Sources:
https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/nearly-1-million-u-s-households-composed-same-sex-couples-n1240340
https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-same-sex-marriage
https://www.apa.org/topics/divorce/same-sex-marriage
https://news.gallup.com/poll/311672/support-sex-marriage-matches-record-high.aspx
https://guides.ll.georgetown.edu/c.php?g=592919&p=4182201
https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-gay-rights
https://www.pewresearch.org/topics/gay-marriage-and-homosexuality/
https://guides.ll.georgetown.edu/c.php?g=592919&p=4182201
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/10/lesbian-divorce-same-sex-marriage-gay-men-lisa-power-ayesha-vardag/