Poor Gay Parents
So much for the stereotype that gays are predominantly white, male, affluent and childless. There’s a new study indicating that the opposite is more often the case than some might think, and that often gay parents are poorer than straight parents.
Same-sex couples with children have fewer financial resources than heterosexual married parents, with an average household income almost $12,000 less and a home ownership rate 15 percent lower, new research from UCLA shows.
…”Same-sex couples raising children are more racially and ethnically diverse and do not fare as well economically as their different-sex married counterparts. As such, they and their children are in particular need of the legal, social and economic benefits of marriage,” he said.
While 23 percent of same-sex parents have a college degree, 30 percent of married parents have obtained higher education, the analysis indicates. Among couples with children, same-sex unmarried partners are just as likely as married couples to have one partner working and one not. For both sets of couples, 34 percent have one member working while the other does not. The study also found that 40 percent of parents in same-sex unions are male, and 60 percent are female.
Gay and lesbian parents are also more likely than straight parents to be African American and Latino, and the children of same-sex couples are similarly diverse, researchers found. Over 46 percent are children of color.
I can imagine that some of us are less likely than straight parents to have college degrees, because after coming out some us can no longer rely on family to fund our education. Some of us are likely to have our education interrupted for that reason, upon coming out, or because of mental/emotional issues stemming from coming out or from harassment and homophobia.
But I imagine that same-sex couples in which one partner stays at home also make the same sacrifices as heterosexual couples who decide one parent will stay at home, but without the same benefits and protections that married heterosexuals receive. As the article goes on to state, if we want to protect our families we often have to layout legal fees that married heterosexuals don’t, just to cobble together a facsimile of the protections of marriage. For example, with a gay family, there’sthe likelihood that the working partner cannot include the non-working partner on health insurance.
The list could probably go on from there. Just chalk it up to the ever growing list of reasons our families need access to the rights and protections of marriage.