Refined Marriage Rates and Coresidential Relationships by Sexual Identity and Age: A Research Note

Abstract

This research note estimates refined marriage rates and coresidential relationships among individuals identifying as gay, lesbian, and straight in the United States seven years after the legalization of same-sex marriage. Data to estimate refined marriage rates or coresidential relationships by sexual identity are not available in a single national dataset so we leverage data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2022 American Community Survey and Household Pulse Survey, to estimate refined marriage rates and the share in a coresidential union for straight, lesbian, and gay populations aged 18 to 64, based on the unmarried population and age. Findings highlight the importance of considering age alongside sexual identity when analyzing marital behavior and coresidential relationships. Both refined marriage rates and percentage living in coresidential relationships were lower among gay identifying males across all age groups, whereas rates among lesbian identifying females were comparable to those among straight identifying males and females. This study contributes to research on contemporary relationship dynamics as well as calling for new demographic data and investigations into the complexities of marriage and cohabitation among diverse populations.