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Same-Sex Couples and Marriage in Massachusetts, a Demographic and Economic Perspective Randy Albelda University of Massachusetts Boston, [email protected]

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Same-Sex Couples and Marriage in Massachusetts, a Demographic and Economic Perspective Randy Albelda University of Massachusetts Boston, Randy.Albelda@Umb.Edu University of Massachusetts Boston ScholarWorks at UMass Boston Economics Faculty Publication Series Economics 1-1-2005 Now That We Do: Same-sex Couples and Marriage in Massachusetts, a Demographic and Economic Perspective Randy Albelda University of Massachusetts Boston, [email protected] Michael Ash University of Massachusetts - Amherst M.V. Lee Badgett University of Massachusetts - Amherst Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.umb.edu/econ_faculty_pubs Part of the Economics Commons, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons Recommended Citation Albelda, Randy; Ash, Michael; and Badgett, M.V. Lee, "Now That We Do: Same-sex Couples and Marriage in Massachusetts, a Demographic and Economic Perspective" (2005). MassBenchmarks. Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 16-24: http://scholarworks.umb.edu/ econ_faculty_pubs/23 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Economics at ScholarWorks at UMass Boston. It has been accepted for inclusion in Economics Faculty Publication Series by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at UMass Boston. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MASSACHUSETTS BENCHMARKS ....16 .... 20052005 •• VOLUMEVOLUME SEVENSEVEN ISSUEISSUE 22 Now That We Do: Same-sex couples and marriage in Massachusetts A demographic and economic perspective ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○ n the wake of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court RANDY ALBELDA, MICHAEL ASH AND M. V. LEE BADGETT ruling that the Commonwealth must give the right to ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○ I marry to same-sex couples, cities and towns began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples last May. The court Gay and lesbian couples can now legally marry in decision and the ensuing legislative deliberations on marriage for same-sex couples have brought new attention to gays and Massachusetts. This article examines the demo- lesbians in the Commonwealth. While much of the focus has centered on the social, political and moral implications of the graphics of same-sex couples and concludes that gay SJC ruling on the institution of marriage, little direct light has been shed on whom the debate is about and the economic marriage will have a relatively small but posi- implications of marriage by gay and lesbian couples in the Commonwealth. Using Census 2000 data on same-sex couples tive long-term aggregate economic impact on in Massachusetts, this article describes the characteristics of same- sex couples and discusses some potential economic implications the Commonwealth. of gay marriage in Massachusetts. The data for this paper were recorded in the year 2000, prior to the legalization of same-same sex marriages in Massachusetts. Therefore, references in this article to “married couples” always refer to heterosexual couples. 2005 • VOLUME SEVEN ISSUE 2 .... 17 .... MASSACHUSETTS BENCHMARKS Same-sex couple live in ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ in the Boston metropolitan area, which is home to about all parts of Massachusetts 41 percent of same-sex couples, compared to 26 percent The Census Bureau reports that 17,099 same-sex couples of married couples.3 and 1.2 million married couples live in the Commonwealth Figure 1 shows a map of the state and compares the of Massachusetts. Just over half (54 percent) of same-sex relative concentration of same-sex couples.4 We measure couples consist of two women; 46 percent are male couples.1 concentration as a “location quotient,” dividing the pro- As Table 1 shows, the 1990s gay and lesbian movement portion of same-sex couples to all couples in a town/city slogan “We Are Everywhere” rings true in Massachusetts. by their proportion in the state as a whole. For example, Same-sex couples do in fact live in counties all over the 3.094 percent of the couples in Northampton are same- Commonwealth,2 though they are somewhat concentrated sex couples. Dividing that percentage by the same ratio for the state — 0.777 percent — yields a quotient of 3.98. Table 1: Number of same-sex couples by The interpretation of the quotient is that the percentage MA county, 2000 of same-sex couples in Northampton is 3.98 times the proportion in the state as a whole. Number of same- % of all couples The shading of the areas of the map represents the sex couples in county concentration. The darker the area, the more concentrated Barnstable County 895 1.7 are same-sex couples relative to the state as a whole. The Berkshire County 250 0.8 map shows that concentrations are highest in the Boston Bristol County 1,011 0.9 metropolitan area, the Northampton-Amherst area and the Dukes County 41 1.2 Cape Cod region. Essex County 1,664 1.1 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Comparisons of demographic Franklin County 341 2.1 and residence characteristics Hampden County 900 1.0 Are same-sex couples different in demographic and other Hampshire County 855 2.8 terms from married couples? Table 2 depicts household Middlesex County 3,931 1.3 characteristics of same-sex and married couples. Most couples Nantucket County 39 2.0 of both types are homeowners, but differences also emerge. Norfolk County 1,287 0.9 While four out of five married couples own a house, for Plymouth County 911 0.9 example, only two-thirds of same-sex couples own their Suffolk County 3,505 3.6 home5, though the value of same-sex couples’ homes is Worcester County 1,469 0.9 slightly higher. Same-sex couples have moved into their Massachusetts Total 17,099 1.3 homes more recently than married couples: 56 percent moved into them within the last five years, compared to Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000. Figure 1: Concentration of same-sex couples by town, MA 2000 (as measured by location quotients) Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000 MASSACHUSETTS BENCHMARKS ....18 .... 2005 • VOLUME SEVEN ISSUE 2 just under 38 percent for married couples. Table 2: Demographic household and individual Same-sex couples who are renters pay more characteristics, MA 2000 in rent per month than married couples. Table 2 also shows that same-sex couples Same-sex Married are more likely to be interracial and to speak couples couples Spanish in the household than married HOUSEHOLD CHARATERISTICS couples. Further, individuals in same-sex Percent homeowners 65.5% 80.7% couples are more likely to be Hispanic and to Property values (average) $267,240 $252,510 be African-American. Individuals in same-sex Rent (average for renters) $764/month $720/month couples are slightly more likely to report a Percent moving in since 1995 56.0% 37.6% disability. One in five reports some limitation, Interracial couples 11.9% 5.0% compared with 17 percent of married people.6 Percent speaking Spanish in the household 9.6% 5.2% Finally, people in same-sex couples are, at INDIVIDUAL CHARATERISTICS CHARACTERISTICS an average age of 43, six years younger than married people. One out of every 10 gay, Hispanic 7.0% 3.8% lesbian, or bisexual people in a same-sex couple White 88.8% 90.8% is over 65, compared to 22.5 percent of married Black 4.9% 3.3% men and women. Same-sex couples have higher American Indian/Alaskan 1.0% 0.5% educational attainment than married people, Asian/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 2.7% 4.1% with nearly half of those in same-sex couples Other 6.1% 3.0% having a college or graduate degree, compared Percent with a disability 20.2% 16.9% to 37 percent of married people. Percent with college or graduate degree 48.8% 36.7% Average age 43 49 Comparisons of economic Percent 65 or over 9.8% 22.5% characteristics Individuals with same-sex partners are more Because individuals could check more than one racial category, the total will not add up to 100%. engaged in Massachusetts’ labor market than married people. As Table 3 indicates, over Table 3: Income and employment household three-quarters (78 percent) of those in same- and individual characteristics, MA 2000 sex couples are employed, compared to 69 percent of married individuals. Both partners Same-sex Married are employed in two-thirds of same-sex couples couples couples but only about 55 percent of married HOUSEHOLD CHARATERISTICS couples are. Employed people with same-sex Household income: MEAN Men: $97,621 $89,182 partners are more likely to work in the private Women: $81,902 sector than married people, though roughly Household income: MEDIAN Men: $76,000 $70,900 equal proportions are self-employed. Women: $67,404 At first glance, male same-sex couples seem to be well-off compared to married couples. Percent of couples with both employed 66.6% 54.7% But a closer look reveals that this difference is INDIVIDUAL CHARATERISTICS CHARACTERISTICS in large part a product of gender differences. Wage and salary income (MEAN) Men: $38,493 Men: $45,538 Women earn on average less than men, estab- Women: $33,057 Women: $20,211 lishing a clear household income “order.” So Wage and salary income (MEDIAN) Men: $30,000 Men: $35,000 the more men in a couple, the higher is the Women: $27,000 Women: $12,000 average household income. Percent employed 77.6% 68.8% Both the average and the median incomes Employment sector (if employed): of male couples are higher than the corre- Private sector 76.8% 73.7% sponding incomes of married couples. The Public sector median income for male couples (the income Federal 2.2% 2.4% level at which half of couples are above and State 4.5% 3.7% half below) is $76,000, while the median Local 5.9% 8.7% married couple has a household income of Self-employed 10.4% 11.3% $70,900. Couples with two women have 2005 • VOLUME SEVEN ISSUE 2 ....19 .... MASSACHUSETTS BENCHMARKS lower incomes ($67,404) than either two men or a married ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ wealth’s 351 cities and town.11 In Vermont, where a civil man and women together.
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