UCLA Study on Same-Sex Marks Implementation of Oregon's New Law

Today, Monday, is the first time same-sex couples can become domestic partners in Oregon.

Salem-News.com

(LOS ANGELES) - Today, the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law released two new research studies, one estimating that same-sex domestic partnerships will have a positive impact on the biennial state budget of $1.5 million to $3.7 million, the other analyzing U.S. Census data to provide demographic and economic information for the almost 11,000 same-sex couples in Oregon.

This information is especially relevant as today, for the first time, same-sex couples in Oregon may become domestic partners, following last Friday's ruling by a federal judge to lift an injunction on the domestic partnership law.

Impact on Oregon's economy

The full report may be found at: THE IMPACT ON OREGON'S BUDGET OF INTRODUCING SAME-SEX DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS

Key Findings:

. Approximately 4,477 of Oregon's same-sex couples would enter domestic partnerships in the short term.

. State expenditures on means-tested public benefits programs will fall at least $100,000 and as much as $1.2 million annually.

. State income tax revenues will rise approximately $765,000 when same-sex couples file jointly.

. Any impact on inheritance tax revenue will be negligible, approximately $91,140 annually.

. Administrative cost increases will be less than fees generated.

. No increases in court system expenditures are likely to result from same-sex domestic partnerships.

. The impact on the cost of State employee retirement benefits will be negligible, approximately $20,000 per year.

. In total, same-sex domestic partnerships will have a positive impact on Oregon's biennial budget of $1.5 million to $3.7 million.

The full report may be found at: CENSUS SNAPSHOT

Data reveals

. In 2000, there were 8,932 same-sex couples living in Oregon. By 2005, the number of same-sex couples increased to 10,899.

. There are an estimated 121,645 gay, lesbian, and bisexual people (single and coupled) currently living in Oregon.

. Same-sex couples live in every county in Oregon and constitute 1.1% of coupled households and 0.7% of all households in the state. Multnomah County reported the most same-sex couples with 3,263 couples (1.20% of all households in the county), followed by Lane County with 957 couples (0.73%), and Washington County with 943 couples (0.56%). The counties with the highest percentage of same-sex couples are Multnomah County (1.20% of all county households), Lane County (0.73%), Lincoln County (0.70%), and Jackson County (0.65%).

. Oregon's same-sex couples are as racially and ethnically diverse as their married counterparts: 10% of same-sex couples are nonwhite, compared to 11% of married couples.

. Despite the military's historic policies of excluding gay men and lesbians from service, individuals in same-sex couples have served in the military: 9% of individuals in same-sex couples are veterans, compared to 19% of married individuals.

Similar numbers

. Same-sex parents in Oregon have similar financial resources to support their children to married parents. The median household income of same-sex couples with children is $60,000, compared to $56,900 for married parents. The average household income of same-sex couples with children is $66,350, compared to $69,100 for married parents.

. While 56% of same-sex couples with children own their home, a significantly larger percentage of married parents (73%) own their home.

Engaged in state economy

. Individuals in same-sex couples in Oregon are significantly more likely to be employed than are married individuals: 80% of individuals in same-sex couples are employed, compared to 65% of married individuals.

. Contrary to a popular stereotype, the annual earnings of men in same-sex couples are significantly lower than those of married men. On average, men in same-sex couples in Oregon earn $36,756 each year, significantly less than $45,317 for married men. The median income of men in same-sex couples in Oregon is $33,000, or 8% less than that of married men ($36,000).

. Women in same-sex couples in Oregon earn an average of $30,672 per year (with a median of $30,000), more than married women, whose earnings average $23,908 (with a median of $20,000). Women in same-sex couples earn less than married men as well as men in same-sex couples.