Today, a federal court held unconstitutional the ban on same-sex marriage in South Dakota but stayed its decision pending appeal. In South Dakota, there are approximately 714 cohabiting same-sex couples, of whom 21% are raising an estimated 302 children in their homes.
Williams Institute research also suggests that 357 of these couples will likely marry in the first 3 years that same-sex marriage is available in South Dakota, generating an economic boost of nearly $2.4 million in the state and an additional $140 thousand in sales tax revenue. A full version of the state report is available here.
Key national statistics include:
More than three-quarters (75.8%) of same-sex couples across the country are living in the 36 states where they can marry (not including South Dakota) and more than seven-in-ten (70.4%) Americans are living in states that allow marriage for same-sex couples.
Williams Institute research suggests that there were 690,000 same-sex couples in the US in 2013 raising an estimated 200,000 children. As many as 30,000 of those children are being raised by married parents.
Recent Williams Institute analyses suggest that the number of married same-sex couples, estimated to be as high as 130,000 in 2013, has increased by more than 50% over the last 3 years.
Williams Institute scholars have filed amicus briefs and served as expert witnesses in numerous cases concerning same-sex marriage. Numerous courts have relied explicitly on William Institute research in striking down bans on marriage for same-sex couples, including the Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Seventh, and Ninth Circuits.
