The Measurement of Same-Sex Unmarried Partner Couples in the 2000 U.S. Census

Dan Black (Syracuse University), Gary Gates (UCLA), Seth Sanders (University of Maryland) and Lowell Taylor (Carnegie Mellon University). 

ABSTRACT

Over the past decades there has been a growing demand for accurate demographic statistics on same-sex couples, for the purpose of informing such policy debates as marriage equality, domestic partner benefits, and adoption rights for same-sex couples.  In response to this demand, statistical agencies such as the United States Census Bureau are making an effort to collect consistent and accurate data on same-sex partners. In this paper we discuss procedures used by the Census Bureau in collecting and reporting data on same-sex unmarried partners in the 2000 Decennial Census, highlighting a serious measurement error problem.  Our work serves as a cautionary tale for statistical agencies collecting data on same-sex couples, and as a guide for researchers who use existing data on same-sex couples.