Recent reporting about the Pew Research study entitled The Decline of Marriage and the Rise of New Families showing increased acceptance of gay and lesbian families may have left some with a less than complete picture of the rich diversity of families with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) parents. While we are very happy that acceptance of the idea that gays and lesbians should have the right to raise children has risen, we envision a world in which ALL families are treated with dignity, respect and equality.

At COLAGE we know by experience that LGBTQ families have many different family formations including single parents, co-parents, grandparents and beyond, and LGBTQ families come from every race, ethnic, class, and geographical background imaginable.

US Census Data presented by the Williams Institute has shown this to be true. We are eagerly awaiting analysis of the most recent Census data., yet even in 2000 the Census showed that self-identified lesbian, gay, and bisexual people were more racially diverse than those identifying as heterosexual.

One stereotype about LGBTQ families is that they are primarily white, wealthy and “well-off.” This could not be further from the truth. Data has shown that many LGBTQ people live in poverty, and that same-sex couples with children have slightly less earned income than heterosexual married couples with children.

The 2000 Census showed that one in five children being raised by same-sex couples lives in poverty.

Check out the report on LGBTQ demographics below presented by Gary J. Gates of the Williams Institute.

COLAGE: People with a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer Parent