Summary: A press release just released by the Williams Institute estimates that same-sex marriage is now available for nearly 7 in 10 same-sex couples throughout the United States.
Here is the press release:
Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held unconstitutional the bans on same-sex marriage in Nevada and Idaho. The decision means that those 2 states will likely soon allow same-sex couples to marry, as will the other 3 states in the Ninth Circuit that prohibit marriage for same-sex couples – Alaska, Arizona, and Montana. These 5 new states are in addition to the 11 states that are now or will likely soon permit same-sex couples to marry following the Supreme Court’s decision yesterday to not hear pending cases from the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Seventh, and Tenth Circuits. Following today’s decision from the Ninth Circuit, nearly 7 in 10 (68%) of same-sex couples across the country will live in states where they can marry and nearly two-thirds of Americans will be living in states that allow marriage for same-sex couples.
Williams Institute research also suggests that an estimated 14,000 same-sex couples in Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, and Nevada will likely marry in the next 3 years, generating $133 million in additional spending.
Key statistics include:
- Recent Williams Institute analyses suggest that the number of married same-sex couples, estimated to be as high as 130,000 in 2013, has increased by more than 50% over the last 3 years.
- Williams Institute research has analyzed the economic impact of allowing same-sex couples to marry in Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, and Nevada will likely soon allow such marriages. Combining these states, nearly 14,000 same-sex couples are likely to marry in the next three years generating an estimated $133 million in additional spending and $17 million in sales tax revenue.
- Nearly 7 in 10 (68%) of same-sex couples in the U.S. will now live in a state where they can marry.
- Nearly now nearly two-thirds of Americans will be living in states that allow marriage for same-sex couples.
- Williams Institute research suggests that there were 690,000 same-sex couples in the US in 2013 raising an estimated 200,000 children. As many as 30,000 of those children are being raised by married parents.
- In Alaska, there are nearly 1,230 cohabiting same-sex couples, of which an estimated 23% are raising more than 560 children in their homes.
- In Arizona, there are nearly 16,000 cohabiting same-sex couples, of whom an estimated 16% are raising more than 5,060 children in their homes.
- In Idaho, there are more than 2,040 cohabiting same-sex couples, of which an estimated 27% are raising nearly 1,140 children in their homes.
- In Montana, there are nearly 1,350 cohabiting same-sex couples, of whom an estimated 22% are raising nearly 600 children in their homes.
- In Nevada, there are an estimated 7,140 cohabiting same-sex couples, of whom an estimated 20% are raising more than 3,000 children in their homes.
Williams Institute scholars have filed amicus briefs in, and served as expert witnesses in, many cases concerning marriage rights for same-sex couples, and numerous courts have relied explicitly on William Institute research in striking down bans on marriage for same-sex couples.