Studies Show More Female Same-Sex Couples Marry than Male

Author: The Williams Institute
Published: 10th Dec 2014
Peer-Reviewed Publication: N/A
Additional References: Gay Marriage Publications

Summary: New studies show more female same-sex couples marry than male and lower divorce rates overall.

Main Document

Data also show large increase in same-sex marriages after Windsor decision last year -even in states that already had marriage equality.

The Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Windsor contributed to a significant increase in the number of same-sex couples marrying - even in states that had marriage equality long before the decision - according to new analysis by the Williams Institute.

State administrative data shows that the number of same-sex couples who married nearly doubled in marriage equality states from 2012 to 2013.

The Williams Institute's finding of this "Windsor Effect" is part of a series of new analyses based on administrative data from states that recognized same-sex marriages and relationships as of early 2014.

These analyses also show that almost two-thirds (64%) of all same-sex couples who entered legal relationships are female and that on average 1.1% of same-sex couples dissolve their relationships each year.

This rate is lower than the annual divorce rate for married different-sex couples (2%).

All three of these reports were co-authored by M.V. Lee Badgett, Distinguished Scholar at the Williams Institute, and Director of the Center for Public Policy and Administration at the University of Massachusetts Amherst; and Christy Mallory, Senior Counsel at the Williams Institute.