Massachusetts' same-sex couples predicted to reach parity in 2013

A report released this week by Williams Institute called "Patterns of Relationship Recognition by Same-Sex Couples in the United States," shows that over 140,000 same-sex couples are in a legally recognized relationship and nearly 50,000 are married. These findings are based on state administrative data from those states where same-sex couples can marry, enter civil unions or domestic partnerships, or enter other legal relationship statuses. The study also finds that same-sex couples prefer marriage over other non-marital legal relationship statuses.

The report indicates that those in legalized unions are predominantly female, tend to be younger than currently married different-sex couples, and tend to be older than newly married different-sex couples. Couples will also travel to state that has marriage rights if the state they reside in does not offer protections.

"We see a lot of evidence that same-sex couples strongly prefer marriage over civil unions or domestic partnerships. Same-sex couples marry at higher rates in the first year they have the option than we see in civil union states, for example," M.V. Lee Badgett, Research Director of The Williams Institute and professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. "Our findings are consistent with other research showing that couples value marriage more for its social meaning than for its practical benefits."

"When we look at the residency of same-sex couples who marry, around 60 percent live outside of the state where they got married," said Jody L. Herman, Peter J. Cooper Public Policy Fellow at The Williams Institute. "Couples are much less likely to travel out of state to enter non-marital legal statuses. This is further evidence that same-sex couples prefer marriage."

If present trends continue in Massachusetts, same-sex couples will reach parity in marriage rates with different-sex couples in 2013, a mere nine years after such couples first were allowed to marry.