2008 Woodie Awards
Census finds increase in gay couples
Amanda Woods
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The number of same-sex unmarried couples in Tennessee has increased 10 times in the past 16 years, according to the Williams Institute.
Gary J. Gates, senior research fellow at the Williams Institute, released a study that documented the gay demographic growth, according to an e-mail.
According to the study, the increase has been most prominent in the midwest, mountain and Southern states, with 1,340 couples in 1990 to 15,105 couples in 2006 in the state of Tennessee.
"Clearly, more same-sex couples are willing to openly identify themselves as such on government surveys," Gates said in an e-mail.
"A combination of growing social acceptance and migration to the South and West means that same-sex couples are becoming increasingly visible in the most politically and socially conservative parts of the country," he wrote.
Dr. Nancy Badger, director of the counseling and career planning center and faculty advisor of Spectrum, the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight alliance, said the increase is because society is becoming more tolerant.
"The number of gay people have always been there," Badger said. "Now they feel more open to come out."
According to Badger, Spectrum is trying to build awareness and education about gay and lesbian people.
Gates wrote the increase in same-sex couples will directly impact political issues and the 2008 Presidential election, despite recent political action taken against homosexuals.
"The fact that same-sex couples are becoming more visible in areas where legal recognitions are scarce shows that campaigns against gay rights might have a limited shelf life," Gates wrote.
Margaret Angela Franklin, president of the College Democrats, wrote in an e-mail "rights of an individual or a couple is an important topic, where it is discussed in politics, religion or social realms."
Franklin said the College Democrats teamed up with Spectrum to do a voter registration drive.
John Stuart, a Maryville, Tenn., junior and chairman of the College Republicans, said the increase of homosexual couples will be an issue in the political arena, but they are planning to take it as it comes.
Gary J. Gates, senior research fellow at the Williams Institute, released a study that documented the gay demographic growth, according to an e-mail.
According to the study, the increase has been most prominent in the midwest, mountain and Southern states, with 1,340 couples in 1990 to 15,105 couples in 2006 in the state of Tennessee.
"Clearly, more same-sex couples are willing to openly identify themselves as such on government surveys," Gates said in an e-mail.
"A combination of growing social acceptance and migration to the South and West means that same-sex couples are becoming increasingly visible in the most politically and socially conservative parts of the country," he wrote.
Dr. Nancy Badger, director of the counseling and career planning center and faculty advisor of Spectrum, the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight alliance, said the increase is because society is becoming more tolerant.
"The number of gay people have always been there," Badger said. "Now they feel more open to come out."
According to Badger, Spectrum is trying to build awareness and education about gay and lesbian people.
Gates wrote the increase in same-sex couples will directly impact political issues and the 2008 Presidential election, despite recent political action taken against homosexuals.
"The fact that same-sex couples are becoming more visible in areas where legal recognitions are scarce shows that campaigns against gay rights might have a limited shelf life," Gates wrote.
Margaret Angela Franklin, president of the College Democrats, wrote in an e-mail "rights of an individual or a couple is an important topic, where it is discussed in politics, religion or social realms."
Franklin said the College Democrats teamed up with Spectrum to do a voter registration drive.
John Stuart, a Maryville, Tenn., junior and chairman of the College Republicans, said the increase of homosexual couples will be an issue in the political arena, but they are planning to take it as it comes.
