Marriage & Couples Rights

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    Marriage (In)equality: The Perspectives of Adolescents and Emerging Adults With Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Parents

    By Abbie E. Goldberg, Katherine A. Kuvalanka
    February 2012

    Forty-nine adolescents and emerging adults with lesbian, gay, and bisexual parents were interviewed to examine how individuals perceived themselves and their families as being affected by marriage (in)equality. More than two thirds of participants voiced unequivocal support for marriage equality, citing numerous legal and symbolic benefits that their families were denied.

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    Brief of Amici Curiae: Donaldson v. Montana

    By Jennifer C. Pizer
    December 2011

    Montana’s economy and its over 1,300 same-sex couples could benefit if state recognized their relationships

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  • Estimating the Economic Boost of Marriage Equality in Iowa: Sales Tax

    By Angeliki Kastanis, M.V. Lee Badgett, Jody L. Herman
    December 2011

    Total spending on wedding arrangements and tourism by same-sex couples and their guests added an estimated $12 to $13 million boost to the state and local economy of Iowa. Economic boost is likely to have added $850,000 to $930,000 in tax revenue to state and local coffers.

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  • Same-sex Couples and Immigration in the United States

    Gary J. Gates and Craig Konnoth
    November 2011

    There are an estimated 28,500 binational same-sex couples and nearly 11,500 same-sex couples in which neither partner is a U.S. citizen. Press releases in both English and Spanish within.

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  • Separate and Not Equal: Bi-National Same–Sex Couples

    M.V. Lee Badgett, Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society 2011, vol. 36 No. 4
    November 2011

    In an article published recently in Signs, Williams Institute Research Director Lee Badgett discusses her research on bi-national same-sex couples living in the Netherlands.

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  • Patterns of relationship recognition by same-sex couples in the United States

    M.V. Lee Badgett and Jody L. Herman
    November 2011

    This study uses the best available administrative data to provide a dynamic picture of the demand for legal recognition among same-sex couples and a portrait of the couples seeking recognition. In the U.S., over 140,000 same-sex couples have formalized their relationship under state law and nearly 50,000 have married.

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  • Written Testimony: S.598, The Respect for Marriage Act: Assessing the Impact of DOMA on American Families

    By M.V. Lee Badgett, Ilan H. Meyer, Gary J. Gates, Nan D. Hunter, Jennifer C. Pizer, Brad Sears
    July 2011

    Submitted to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary for its Hearing on “S.598, The Respect for Marriage Act: Assessing the Impact of DOMA on American Families,” this written testimony summarizes demographic data about same-sex couples and the serious financial, legal, social and health consequences of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) for them and their families.

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  • Social Inclusion and the Value of Marriage Equality in Massachusetts and the Netherlands

    By M.V. Lee Badgett
    July 2011

    Much of the debate about marriage rights for same-sex couples has focused on material and legal benefits. However, some of the primary benefits of marriage equality for same-sex couples and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people might be psychological.

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  • Spending on Weddings of Same-Sex Couples in the United States

    By Craig J. Konnoth, M.V. Lee Badgett, Brad Sears
    July 2011

    The extension of marriage rights to same-sex couples in various jurisdictions will generate economic gains for the businesses in those jurisdictions due to increased spending on weddings. This memorandum estimates the total spending by resident and out-of-state couples on their weddings in states that recognize marriage equality for same-sex couples, in the first year after equal marriage rights were introduced.

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  • The Impact of Creating Civil Unions for Same-Sex Couples on Delaware’s Budget

    By Jody L. Herman, Craig J. Konnoth, M.V. Lee Badgett
    March 2011

    This report analyzes the impact on Delaware’s state budget of introducing civil union rights for same-sex couples. It estimates that a law recognizing civil unions between same-sex partners will cost the State $1.18 million over the three years following the measure, or only $390,000 per year. The annual effect is a tiny fraction of the State of Delaware’s annual $3.3 billion budget over three years.

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  • The Impact on Rhode Island’s Budget of Allowing Same-Sex Couples to Marry

    By Jody L. Herman, Craig J. Konnoth, M.V. Lee Badgett
    February 2011

    This analysis estimates the impact on Rhode Island’s state budget of introducing marriage rights for same-sex couples. Using the best data available, we estimate that a measure recognizing marriage between same-sex partners will garner the State $1.2 million in 2010 dollars over the three years following the measure.

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  • The Fiscal Impact of Creating Civil Unions on Colorado’s Budget

    By Jody L. Herman, Craig J. Konnoth, M.V. Lee Badgett
    February 2011

    This analysis estimates the impact on Colorado’s state budget of introducing civil union rights for same-sex and different-sex couples. Using the best data available, we estimate that a law recognizing civil unions for same-sex and different-sex partners will garner the State $4.8 million over the three years following the law’s implementation.

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  • The Economic Value of Marriage for Same-Sex Couples

    By M.V. Lee Badgett
    October 2010

    In the five states and the District of Columbia that allow same-sex couples to marry, tens of thousands same-sex couples have taken advantage of the opportunity. The demand for marriage shows same-sex couples find marriage to be a valuable status, and studies of same-sex couples suggest they are quite similar to different-sex couples in both the economic and social needs that lead them to marry.

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  • The Impact of Expanding FMLA Rights to Care for Children of Same-Sex Partners

    By M.V. Lee Badgett
    June 2010

    The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has expanded its scope of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to allow employees to be allowed unpaid leave to care for the children of unmarried same-sex partners, but does not extend this unpaid leave to care for ill unmarried same-sex partners.

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  • Potential Impact of HB444 on the State of Hawai’i

    By Naomi G. Goldberg, Brad Sears, M.V. Lee Badgett
    June 2010

    This memo summarizes current research about the potential impact on the State of Hawai’i of HB444 HD1 SD1: Relating to Civil Unions on the state economy and budget. The fiscal effects of allowing civil unions in Hawai’i include a boost the state economy from increased spending and jobs, and a positive impact on the state budget through increased revenue and savings.

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  • The Impact of Extending Marriage to Same-Sex Couples on the New Jersey Budget

    By Brad Sears, Christopher Ramos, M.V. Lee Badgett
    December 2009

    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.

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  • Federal Estate Tax Disadvantages for Same-Sex Couples

    By Michael D. Steinberger
    November 2009

    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.

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  • The Impact of Inequalities for Same-Sex Partners in Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans

    By Naomi G. Goldberg
    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. 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.

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  • Testimony on the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009

    By M.V. Lee Badgett
    July 8, 2009

    Williams Institute Research Director Lee Badgett’s written testimony delivered to the Congressional Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia on HR 2517: Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligation Act of 2009. If passed, the legislation would extend federal employee benefits to domestic partners of federal workers.

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  • The Business Boost from Marriage Equality: Evidence from the Health and Marriage Equality in Massachusetts Survey

    By Naomi G. Goldberg, Michael D. Steinberger, M.V. Lee Badgett
    May 2009

    This brief draws on two sources of data, a survey and state-collected tax revenue data, and finds that marriages have had a positive economic effect on Massachusetts – likely providing a boost of over $100 million to the state economy.

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