Highest percentages of same-sex couples raising children tend to be in red states
Mississippi. North Dakota. Idaho. Montana. Wyoming. That other Dakota.
They’re not exactly known as bastions of gay rights, but when it comes to raising children in a same-sex household, they’re home sweet home.
A fascinating new study by the Williams Institute, a national think tank at UCLA Law, finds that the states with the highest percent of gay households with children tend to be those with a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
The Top 10:
- Mississippi — 26 percent!
- Wyoming
- Alaska
- Idaho
- Montana
- Kansas
- North Dakota
- Arkansas
- South Dakota
- Oklahoma
When broken down by metro areas with a population of more than 1 million:
- Salt Lake City, Utah — 26 percent
- Virginia Beach, Va. — 24 percent
- Detroit; Memphis, Tenn.; San Antonio — 22 percent
And when broken down by metro areas with a population of less than 1 million, the list becomes more surprising:
- Grand Forks, N.D. — 65 percent
- Bismarck, N.D. — 61 percent
- Hinesville, Ga. — 46 percent
- Laredo, Texas — 45 percent
- Visalia, Calif. — 44 percent
When ranked with the states, D.C. has the lowest percentage of same-sex couples raising children. Only 8.7 percent of same-sex Washington couples are raising children, meaning the average gay couple in Mississippi is three-times more likely to be someone’s moms or dads than a gay couple here.
“Research consistently shows that same-sex couples raise children all across the country,” said Williams Institute public policy research fellow, Angeliki Kastanis. “This analysis underscores the fact that recognition of LGBT families is a consequential policy question in every state.”
Support Metro Weekly’s Journalism
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
