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SEARCH WILLIAMS INSTITUTE
STUDIES
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual
men and women in the US military: Updated estimates
By Gary J. Gates
January 2010
View Press Release
This research brief uses new data from the American
Community Survey and the General Social Survey to provide
updated estimates of how many lesbians, gay men, and
bisexuals (LGB) are serving in the US military. It also
updates estimates of the cost of the US military’s “Don’t
Ask/Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy.
Census 2010 LGBT Basics
By Gary J. Gates
March 2009
This brief provides information for the LGBT community about
the upcoming Census 2010.
Español/Spanish
 The
Effect of Oregon's Potential Budget Cuts on Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, and Transgender People and Their Children
By Christopher Ramos
January 2010
This report examines the effect of Oregon’s potential budget
cuts on LGBT people and their children. Oregon voters will
vote this month on two legislative tax initiatives, Measure
66 and Measure 67. If rejected by the voters, the
legislature may substantially decrease spending on social
services and programs. Such cuts would negatively affect
many individuals and families in Oregon’s LGBT community,
particularly those who are poor, families with children, the
elderly, youth in institutionalized settings, the disabled,
and those living with HIV/AIDS.
 The
Impact of Employment Nondiscrimination Legislation in South
Dakota
By Naomi G. Goldberg, M.V. Lee Bagett, and Christopher Ramos
January 2010
View Press Release
This report explores the issue of employment discrimination
against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)
citizens of South Dakota. We used the best available data
from government sources and from recent research to examine
the impact of employment discrimination on LGBT people and
on South Dakota businesses. Specifically this report
concludes that as many as 12,400 gay, lesbian, and bisexual
individuals live in South Dakota, and estimates suggest that
2,000 transgender individuals live in South Dakota; LGBT
South Dakotans are racially and ethnically diverse, live
throughout the state, and actively participate in the
economy; across a number of surveys, large percentages of
LGBT people report discrimination and harassment in the
workplace; and, according to Census Bureau data, South
Dakotans in same-sex couples are 15% less likely to be
employed than those in different sex married couples.
 The
Impact of Extending Marriage to Same-Sex Couples on the New
Jersey Budget
By Brad Sears, Christopher Ramos, and M.V. Lee Badgett, PhD
December 2009
View Press Release
This analysis estimates the impact of extending marriage to
same-sex couples on state and local government revenues in
New Jersey. Using the best data available, we estimate that
allowing same-sex couples to marry will result in
approximately $15.1 million in new revenue over the next
three years. Previous studies have found that extending
the rights and obligations of marriage to same-sex couples
would have a positive impact on each state‘s budget. Similar
conclusions have been reached by legislative offices in
Connecticut and Vermont and by the Comptroller General of
New York. In addition, the Congressional Budget Office has
concluded that if all fifty states and the federal
government extended the rights and obligations of marriage
to same-sex couples, the federal government would benefit by
nearly $1 billion each year.
 Federal
Estate Tax Disadvantages for Same-Sex Couples
By Michael D. Steinberger
November 2009
View Press
Release
Throughout the course of their lives, same-sex couples
experience many legal challenges not faced by their
heterosexual peers. Federal estate tax law continues this
differential treatment into death. While the estate tax laws
generally allow married heterosexuals to transfer unlimited
assets to their spouses at death without incurring estate
tax liability, Americans in same-sex relationships are
limited in their ability to transfer assets tax-free to
their same-sex partner upon death. Using data from several
government data sources, this report estimates the dollar
value of the estate tax disadvantage faced by same-sex
couples. In 2009, the differential treatment of same-sex and
married couples in the estate tax code will affect an
estimated 73 same-sex couples, costing them each, on
average, more than $3.3 million.
Best Practices for Asking Questions about Sexual Orientation
on Surveys
November 2009
This report presents the findings from a multi-year effort
of an expert panel of scholars, the Sexual Minority
Assessment Research Team (SMART) to identify the best
practices for asking questions about sexual orientation on
surveys.
 Same-Sex
Spouses and Unmarried Partners in the American Community Survey,
2008
By Gary J Gates
October 2009
The US Census Bureau release of data from the 2008 American
Community Survey (ACS) included the first official estimates
for the number of same-sex couples who called one partner a
“husband” or “wife”. This report compares these same-sex
spousal couples to those who designated a partner as an
“unmarried partner”. Comparisons are also made with
comparable different-sex couples.
The
Impact of Inequalities for Same-Sex Partners in
Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans
October 2009
This report analyzes the impact of unequal treatment of
same-sex partners in the context of retirement plans and
estimates the cost for employers of adopting a policy of
equal treatment. The focus of this report is retirement
income rather than health care provision for retirees and
their families. Our goal is to address several key issues
for same-sex couples as they plan for retirement. We find
that same-sex couples face inequalities when it comes to
their ability to accumulate wealth, plan for their futures,
and pass on wealth.
Documenting Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual
Orientation and Gender Identity in State Employment
September 2009
This report finds that there is a
widespread and persistent pattern of unconstitutional
discrimination by state governments on the basis of sexual
orientation and gender identity, and there is no meaningful
difference in the pattern and scope of employment
discrimination against LGBT people by state governments
compared to the private sector and other public sector
employers. There is also evidence that the list of
documented examples that we have compiled far
under-represents the actual prevalence of employment
discrimination against LGBT people by state and local
governments. This finding will support Congress in
exercising its authority under Section 5 of the 14th
amendment to provide a private right of action for damages
under ENDA to state government employees who have suffered
discrimination.
CENSUS SNAPSHOTS
This
series of studies written by Williams Institute
researchers provides state-level demographic and economic information
about same-sex couples and same-sex couples raising children
across the country. The series includes all 50 states,
Washington, D.C., New York City, Puerto Rico, and the entire United States.
Please
click on one of the following states or the map below to read the full
report:
Alaska,
Alabama,
Arizona,
Arkansas,
California,
Colorado,
Connecticut,
Delaware,
Florida,
Georgia,
Hawaii,
Idaho,
Illinois,
Indiana,
Iowa,
Kansas,
Kentucky,
Louisiana,
Maine,
Maryland,
Massachusetts,
Michigan,
Minnesota,
Mississippi,
Missouri,
Montana,
Nebraska,
Nevada,
New Hampshire,
New Jersey,
New Mexico,
New York,
North Carolina,
North Dakota,
Ohio,
Oklahoma,
Oregon,
Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island,
South Carolina,
South Dakota,
Tennessee,
Texas,
Utah,
Vermont,
Virginia,
Washington,
West Virginia,
Wisconsin,
Wyoming.
Census Snapshots for
District of Columbia,
New York City,
Puerto Rico,
and
The United States.
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