States with the most same-sex households

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June 1, 2018
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States with the most same-sex households

LGBT+ families are an integral part of American society. The Movement Advancement Project, an independent think-tank working to promote equality for LGBT+ people, has estimated that are being raised by lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender parents around the country, from rural communities in the Midwest to the center of Manhattan. These LGBT+ couples and their families can have broadly different experiences depending on state legislation and community dynamics. Some families are supported by policies on adoption and benefits while others struggle to thrive in communities that are less tolerant. The  has risen over time, and supportive legislation and resources for new families have increased over the past few decades. Millennials, will soon be starting families of their own.

In honor of June being , 麻豆原创 examined the states with the highest percentages of same-sex households, representing both couples 鈥&苍产蝉辫;married and unmarried, and families. Census data from the  was used to rank the top 25 states, and this information was supplemented with a report on the demographics of LGBT+ households in each state from the .

Read on to find out how each state's LGBT+ community ranks, as well as information on recent news and legislation affecting this population.

And, click to read about the states with the least same-sex households. 

#25. Texas

Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.67% (64,266 out of 9,535,612)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 54%

Gender breakdown: 45% male, 55% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 19.8%

Although same-sex marriage has been legal in Texas since the 2015 Supreme Court ruling that legalized it nationally, same-sex couples do not have entirely equal rights in the state. Last year, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that spouses of gay and lesbian public employees received by heterosexual employees.

#24. Virginia

Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.69% (21,416 out of 3,120,692)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 55.5%

Gender breakdown: 44% male, 56% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 16.0%

Virginia has also had issues integrating the Supreme Court ruling. A bill to change language in the state鈥檚 code restricting marriage to 鈥渙ne man and one woman鈥 was .

 

#23. Connecticut

Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.69% (9,344 out of 1,357,269)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 57.6%

Gender breakdown: 44% male, 56% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 17.0%

Same-sex marriage was in October 2008. In the years since that decision, Connecticut鈥檚 gay couples have started families at high rates, leading to what some doctors call a

 

#22. Illinois

Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.69% (33,342 out of 4,822,046)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 50.4%

Gender breakdown: 48% male, 52% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 16.6%

The Illinois Senate voted this past May to require , through a unit studying "the role and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this State." The amount of time spent on this unit will be up to the board of each district.

#21. Georgia

Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.70% (25,949 out of 3,686,135)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 53.3%

Gender breakdown: 48% male, 52% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 19.6%

There is actually located in Georgia 鈥&苍产蝉辫;LGBT+ population: unknown. The legislation in this state is not the most inclusive: organizations can , and .

#20. Indiana

Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.71% (17,867 out of 2,533,270)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 47%

Gender breakdown: 40% male, 60% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children:18.9%

Mike Pence was the governor of Indiana from 2013 to 2017, prior to serving as Vice President. During his tenure, he tended to . The state has seen good news for LGBT+ inclusivity recently, however: Memories, a pizza restaurant that famously refused to cater same-sex weddings in 2015, was .

#19. Alaska

Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.79% (1,952 out of 248,468)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 55%

Gender breakdown: 37% male, 63% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 23.1%

础濒补蝉办补鈥檚 has been long and filled with challenges, filled with six failed bills attempting to make gender identity and sexual orientation illegal. The state鈥檚 first gay marriage ceremony was performed in 2014, when a magistrate in the northern town of Barrow started marrying couples in celebration of the state鈥檚 ban being struck down.

#18. Maryland

Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.80% (17,470 out of 2,194,657)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 64.7%

Gender breakdown: 41% male, 59% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 20.3%

This past April, Maryland became the 11th state to Methods include any secular, religious programs, or individual analysis intended to 鈥渃onvert鈥 LGBT+ youth to heterosexuality. Despite widespread controversy with regards to children鈥檚 rights, such programs are still used widely in the U.S.

#17. Arizona

Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.82% (20,656 out of 2,519,052)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 52.7%

Gender breakdown: 47% male, 53% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 16.5%

, a rising sophomore at Arizona State, has made headlines as the first openly gay scholarship student in Division I college football. His coach and team have been supportive of his decision to go public regarding his sexuality.

#16. Maine

Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.84% (4,446 out of 531,660)

Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 51.4%

Gender breakdown: 37% male, 63% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 13.8%

Portland, Maine was once lauded as one of the "" As other states have increased inclusivity, both politically and socially, Maine has actually become less prominent.

#15. Colorado

Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.85% (17,929 out of 2,108,992)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 55.1%

Gender breakdown:39% male, 61% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 15.9%

Colorado was the site of a between a gay couple planning their wedding and a baker who refused to bake them a cake. The case has moved through rounds of appeals to the Supreme Court, which is this summer.

#14. New Mexico

Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.88% (6,692 out of 758,364)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 45.4%

Gender breakdown: 38% male, 62% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 17.8%

Santa Fe, N.M. is the home of a thriving LGBT+ community including the city鈥檚 previous mayor, Javier Gonzales  with an exciting art scene and robust retirement community. Interestingly,  鈥 perhaps because residents tend to feel comfortable anywhere they happen to be drinking.

#13. New York

Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.89% (64,147 out of 7,209,054)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 55.9%

Gender breakdown: 52% male, 48% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 16.4%

New York City as a metropolitan area has 鈥 which was apparently once . Nevertheless, other parts of New York are not so inclusive, and the state overall comes in at #13 on this list.

#12. Washington

Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.92% (25,401 out of 2,768,076)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 67.7%

Gender breakdown: 44% male, 56% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 15.8%

Legislation in Washington State is largely supportive of same-sex households. Gay couples have been in the state since 2009, and Washington was one of the first states to for minors earlier this year.

#11. Florida

Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.92% (69,566 out of 7,573,456)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 56%

Gender breakdown: 54% male, 46% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 13.3%

In June 2016, Orlando, Fla. was the site of the deadliest mass shooting in American history up until that point: . Florida's LGBT+ community has remained strong since, with several cities in South Florida recently .

#10. Nevada

Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.93% (9,827 out of 1,055,158)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 55.6%

Gender breakdown: 52% male, 48% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 17%

Both same-sex marriages and domestic partnerships are in Nevada, although tax advantages and some other rights are only available to married couples. The state also supports same-sex couples with a passed last spring, which aims to protect Nevada couples if the current U.S. Supreme Court reverses its 2015 decision.

#9. New Hampshire

Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.94% (4,915 out of 520,643)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 67.9%

Gender breakdown: 36% male, 64% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 16.5%

Earlier in May, the New Hampshire legislature to Gov. Chris Sununu, who has previously offered support for such legislation. For LGBT+ couples, this state offers forest retreats such as , a 鈥済ay-owned, members-only, adult male (21+), gay camping facility.鈥

#8. Hawaii

Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.96% (4,381 out of 455,868)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 56.3%

Gender breakdown: 53% male, 47% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 15.8%

Acceptance of homosexuality was a , later stamped out by Western culture when the archipelago became part of the United States. In recent years, artists and activists have sought to celebrate this history through projects such as a documentary by Connie Florez about the Glade Show Lounge, a celebrated '70s drag show club.

#7. Rhode Island

Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.97% (3,963 out of 408,239)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 61.8%

Gender breakdown: 43% male, 57% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 15.5%

Rhode Island was host to one of the first times in American history that . In 1919, the U.S. Navy investigated rumors of homosexual activity among sailors in Newport. Today, the state is very supportive of its LGBT+ community, with policies and guidelines on how public schools should protect transgender students.

#6. California

Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.99% (128,111 out of 12,944,178)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 57.7%

Gender breakdown: 52% male, 48% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 16.0%

California has the largest LGBT+ population in the nation. But much of the community in this state is still fighting for rights, ranging from 鈥&苍产蝉辫;led by state legislator Evan Low  to the tragic ongoing investigation around , a gay university student who "mysteriously disappeared from his moving train" while traveling to Sacramento.

#5. Vermont

Percent of households that are same-sex: 1.03% (2,635 out of 254,851)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 61.6%

Gender breakdown: 33% male, 67% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 18.6%

Vermont has been called It was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage through a legislative decision 鈥&苍产蝉辫;rather than a court ruling, and has the  after D.C., according to recent Gallup polling data.

#4. Delaware

Percent of households that are same-sex: 1.06% (3,728 out of 351,085)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 59.6%

Gender breakdown: 46% male, 54% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 15.6%

Delaware has long been a convergence point for the LGBT+ community: in the 1970s, '80s, and '90s, the were a favorite vacation spot for gay men from Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Living in an accepting community doesn鈥檛 guarantee safety, unfortunately; a gay former student was recently .

#3. Massachusetts

Percent of households that are same-sex: 1.09% (28,113 out of 2,579,398)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 62.7%

Gender breakdown: 42% male, 58% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 17.1%

Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage, when the that same-sex couples have the legal right to marry in November 2003. This decision , and finally for the Supreme Court in 2015.

#2. Oregon

Percent of households that are same-sex: 1.10% (17,332 out of 1,571,678)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 48.4%

Gender breakdown: 38% male, 62% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 16.3%

Portland, Ore. is one of the cities with the highest percentage of LGBT+ people 鈥&苍产蝉辫;only San Francisco ranks higher, and Oregon had the nation鈥檚 first openly . Similar to gay bars鈥 lack of success in Santa Fe, Portland ; rather, residents find widespread acceptance throughout their city.

#1. District of Columbia

Percent of households that are same-sex: 2.50% (7,036 out of 281,241)

Percent of these households with same-sex spouses: 53%

Gender breakdown: 74% male, 26% female

Percent of same-sex households raising children: 8.7%

By the numbers, Washington, D.C. is the It also has the highest percentage of people who identify as LGBT+, according to Gallup. After decades of residents hiding their identities in order to secure government jobs, the city's LGBT+ population is now out and proud.

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