Coming out

The number of same-sex couples has risen significantly in the Commonwealth over the past decade, according to U.S. Census figures.

Of Virginia's 173,684 unmarried-partner households, 9,732 are male same-sex households-a 40 percent increase since 2000-and 10,080 are female same-sex households- a 60 percent increase since 2000.

Gary Gates, a demographer at the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, said that the increase in same-sex households could be attributed to either an influx of gay couples moving into Virginia or an increase in gay Virginians living under the same roof. He also noted that more gay and lesbian couples are willing to disclose their sexual orientation.

"In the past they would have reported themselves as roommates, but are now spouses or unmarried partners," said Gates.

Peter Spriggs, a senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council, said that the rising number of same-sex couples may be evidence that "when you have greater social acceptance and affirmation of homosexual relationships, more people are going to engage in them."

According to Gates, traditionally conservative areas reflected more growth in same-sex households, because couples there are becoming more willing to declare their orientation. Places like Arlington County and Alexandria were already reporting same-sex households in the previous census, so the increase in those areas was not as significant.

Virginia Beach documented a 57 percent growth in lesbian households since 2000-from 328 households to 516-and a 41 percent growth in gay households since 2000- from 288 to 407. Roanoke County documented an 83 percent increase in lesbian households - from 83 to152-and a 49 percent growth in gay households - from 59 to 88.

James Parrish, the executive director of Equality Virginia, said that the increase in same-sex households is the result of a push for a more accurate count of gay and lesbian households in Virginia. Equality Virginia and other gay advocacy groups encouraged Virginian same-sex couples to participate in the 2010 Census.

"There are gay and lesbian households in every locality in Virginia. People feel more comfortable in living a more open life," Parrish said.

In 2009, many gay advocacy groups pushed homosexual couples to report their partnerships in the census. The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force created a project, Queer the Census, calling same-sex couples to stand up and be counted. The project's website explained the importance of the 2010 Census for same sex couples-getting the LGBT community better health, economic and political support. Other gay advocacy groups hoped that a high count of same sex couples would help efforts for gay rights nationwide, such as gay adoption and gay marriage.

Spriggs said that the push to be counted is part of a measure to get acceptance for homosexual partnerships.

"I think that it's largely an effort to suggest that homosexuals are your neighbors in every part of the country," said Spriggs. "Now that may be true, but it has nothing to do with whether society should be affirming their sexual conduct or not."

Gay marriage remains illegal in Virginia under the Defense of Marriage Act, which has been adopted as state law.

Fifty-six percent of Virginia's lesbian households have children younger than 18 living in the residence, but the number drops to 36 percent for male same-sex households. While individuals, regardless of sexual orientation are legally allowed to adopt, Virginia bars same-sex couples from adopting. ('Comments closed,' May 23 http://www.worldmag.com/virginia/18087)

Other states, such as Maine and Georgia, also documented a significant rise in the number of same-sex households within state borders.

While same sex couples are listed as "unmarried partners" in the official statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau raised controversy in 2009 when it announced that it would provide a separate count of same-sex married couples. The secondary report will count all same-sex married couples in the six states where gay marriage is legal-Massachusetts, Iowa, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Connecticut-plus all same-sex couples that consider themselves married in any other state.

The Bureau stated that the census must reflect the changing attitudes in America, but several policy analysts, including Sprigg, argue that the secondary report will violate DOMA which became federal law when signed by President Clinton in 1996. DOMA defines "marriage" as the legal union between one man and one woman.

The secondary report is set to be released in November.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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