

Statistics on Gay Marriage
The majority of Americans support the legal recognition same-sex marriage. Currently, 48% of U.S. residents live in states that offer same-sex couples a way to acquire legal rights. Same-sex marriage is now legal in about 40% of U.S. states (including the District of Columbia). McKinley Irvin believes full marriage equality is inevitable.
More statistics on same-sex marriage:
In Washington State
- Washington State was the 8th state in the nation to legalize gay marriage
- Over 7,000 same-sex couples have been married in Washington State (as of 9/2013)
- 15.78% of all same-sex couples in Washington State are raising children (Williams Institute, April 2013)
LGBT Families in the U.S.
- 3.4% of adults identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) in the United States (Gallup report, October 2012)
- There are 650,000 same-sex couples in the United States (Williams Institute, February 2013)
- 114,100 same-sex couples are legally married in the United States (Williams Institute, February 2013)
- 108,600 same-sex couples in the U.S. are in civil unions or registered domestic partnerships (Williams Institute, February 2013)
- See Chapter 9 for statistics on gay divorce
Which States Have Legal Same-Sex Marriages in the U.S.?
Same-sex marriage is legal in the following states and districts, listed by when each passed laws allowing same-sex marriage.
- Massachusetts (May 17, 2004)
- Connecticut (November 12, 2008)
- Iowa (April 3, 2009)
- Vermont (September 1, 2009)
- District of Columbia (December 18, 2009)
- New Hampshire (January 1, 2010)
- New York (July 24, 2011)
- Washington (December 6, 2012)
- Maine (December 29, 2012)
- Maryland (January 1, 2013)
- California (June 27, 2013)
- Delaware (July 1, 2013)
- Minnesota (August 1, 2013)
- Rhode Island (August 1, 2013)
- New Jersey (October 21, 2013)
- Hawaii (November 13, 2013)
- Illinois (November 20, 2013)
- New Mexico (December 19, 2013)
- Oregon (May 19, 2014)
- Pennsylvania (May 20, 2014)
Which States Provide State-Recognized Domestic Partnerships or Civil Unions (but not marriage) in the U.S.?
- Colorado
- Nevada
- Wisconsin
Public Opinion on Gay Marriage in the United States
Support for same-sex marriage is increasing in the U.S. Currently, those in favor of gay marriage outweigh those who are opposed.
Source: Nate Silver, “ How Opinion on Same-Sex Marriage Is Changing, and What It Means,” March 26, 2013.
