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How Many Adults Identify as Transgender in the United States?

June 29, 2016

Population-based surveys, meaning those that are designed to allow researchers to generalize findings to the population, rarely ask questions to identify transgender people and, therefore, cannot be used to provide estimates of the size and characteristics of the transgender population. The federal government administers several large, national population-based surveys like the American Community Survey and the National Health Interview Survey that track the demographics, health and well-being of U.S. residents. Unfortunately, these surveys do not currently measure gender identity. However, there are several state-level population-based surveys that identify transgender respondents and can be used to estimate the size and characteristics of the transgender population.In 2011, Gary J. Gates utilized two state-level population-based surveys that collected data from 2003 in California and from 2007 and 2009 in Massachusetts to estimate that 0.3% of the U.S. adult population, roughly 700,000 adults, identified as transgender. Since then, more state-level data sources have emerged that allow us to utilize an estimation procedure that would not have been possible with the limited data available in 2011. Compared to the data used in Gates' study, these new data sources provide more recent data (2014), larger sample sizes, and more detailed information about respondents. This allows for the development of more recent, detailed, and statistically robust estimates of the percentage and number of adults in the United States who identify as transgender.This report utilizes data from the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to estimate the percentage and number of adults who identify as transgender nationally and in all 50 states. We find that 0.6% of U.S. adults identify as transgender. This figure is double the estimate that utilized data from roughly a decade ago and implies that an estimated 1.4 million adults in the U.S. identify as transgender. State-level estimates of adults who identify as transgender range from 0.3% in North Dakota to 0.8% in Hawaii. In addition, due to current state-level policy debates that specifically target and affect transgender students, we provide estimates of the number of adults who identify as transgender by age. The youngest age group, 18 to 24 year olds, is more likely than older age groups to identify as transgender.to identify as transgender.

LGBTStats Demographic Data Site

May 1, 2016

The LGBTStats Demographic Data Site goal is to share data on individuals and couples within the LGBT community in the United States in a visually stimulating way. The site is a tool to navigate a multifaceted population that is often overlooked due to limitations in data. While many of those limitations still exist, this site provides a snapshot of the community from the best data that is available. You can also compare states and counties against others and find the numbers you need to figure out how LGBT individuals and individuals in same-sex couples are faring.

Same-Sex Couples and Immigration in the United States

November 1, 2011

This report uses Census Bureau data to provide a portrait of same-sex couples affected by United States immigration policy. Using data from the American Community Survey (ACS) it presents demographic profiles of three different types of same-sex couples: binational couples in which one partner is a U.S. citizen and one is not; dual non-citizen couples; and couples that include a naturalized U.S. citizen. Binational couples and non-citizen couples in which only one partner is a permanent resident would gain protections and rights if U.S. immigration law were changed to treat same-sex couples as their different-sex counterparts are treated. As of 2010, nearly 79,200 same-sex couples living in the United States include at least one partner who is currently not a U.S citizen or was naturalized as a citizen. Of the nearly 650,000 same-sex couples in the US: 4.4% or 28,574 are binational couples (one partner is a U.S. citizen and one is not)1.8% or 11,442 are dual non-citizen couples6.1% or 39,176 are dual citizen couples with at least one naturalized partner

Testimony Submitted to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: The Uniting American Families Act, Addressing Inequality in Federal Immigration Law

June 3, 2009

A large body of research has shown that same-sex "unmarried partners" identified in the U.S. Census are primarily composed of lesbian and gay couples. The Census includes questions about citizenship status and country of origin and offers valuable information about same-sex couples who may be affected by UAFA. A 2005 report entitled "Bi-national Same-sex Unmarried Partners in Census 2000: A Demographic Portrait" provides important information about the size and demographic characteristics of bi-national same-sex couples where one partner is a U.S. citizen and the other is not. This testimony summarizes the key findings from that report.

Marriage Equality and the Creative Class

May 7, 2009

Data from the American Community Survey suggest that marriage equality has a small but positive impact on the number of individuals in same-sex couples who are attracted to a state. However, marriage equality appears to have a larger impact on the types of individuals in same-sex couples who are attracted to a state. This study shows that in Massachusetts marriage equality resulted in an increase of younger, female, and more highly educated and skilled individuals in same-sex couples moving to the state.

Poverty in the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Community

March 1, 2009

This report undertakes the first analysis of the poor and low-income lesbian, gay, and bisexual population. We find clear evidence that poverty is at least as common in the LGB population as among heterosexual people and their families.

Census Snapshot: California's Asian/Pacific Islander LGB Population

October 1, 2008

This report provides a general overview of Asian and Pacific Islanders (API) in same-sex couples as well as the broader API lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) population in California. Key findings include more than 66,000 Asians and Pacific Islanders in California identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual and more than 14,500 APIs are part of a same-sex couple; over 34% of APIs in same-sex couples in California are of Filipino descent; nearly a third (31%) of API women and 21% of API men within same-sex couples are raising children; API same-sex parents have fewer financial resources to support their children than those in married couples, with an average household income of $96,290 compared to $109,091 for APIs in different-sex married couples.

Census Snapshot: California's Black LGB Population

October 1, 2008

This report provides a general overview of Black individuals in same-sex couples as well as the broader Black lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) population in California. Key findings include an estimated 55,000 Black lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals live in California along with approximately 7,400 Black men and women in same-sex couples in the state; just under 9% of all Black men and women in same-sex couples in the United States live in California, second only to New York as the state with the most Black people in same-sex couples; almost 55% of Black women and 11% of Black men in same-sex couples are raising children; and, Black same-sex parents have fewer financial resources to support their children than those in married couples, with a median household income of $60,900 compared to $76,000 for Black people in different-sex married couples.

Census Snapshot: California's Latino/Latina LGB Population

October 1, 2008

This study provides demographic and economic information for the more than 200,000 LGB Latino/a individuals and 52,410 Latinos/as in same-sex couples living in California. The study shows that nearly half of Latinas and 44% of Latinos in same-sex couples in California are raising nearly 25,000 children. Other key findings include more than 12% of the nation's Latinos/as in same-sex couples live in California, home to the largest number of Latino/as in same-sex couples among all states and LGB Latinos/as having similar citizenship rates as their heterosexual counterparts; however, LGB Latinos/as are more likely to be citizens by birth as opposed to naturalization.

Census Snapshot: California Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Population

October 1, 2008

This report provides demographic and economic information for the almost 861,000 LGB individuals and 109,000 same-sex couples living in California. We use the 2005/2006 American Community Survey (ACS), conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, to compare characteristics of same-sex couples to their different-sex married counterparts. We use data from the 2003 and 2005 California Health Interview Survey to consider demographic traits of the full lesbian, gay, and bisexual population in the state. The study shows nearly 25% of same-sex couples in California are raising more than 52,000 children. The study also shows that same-sex couples raising children have fewer economic resources than their heterosexual, married counterparts.

Marriage, Registration and Dissolution by Same-Sex Couples in the U.S.

July 1, 2008

This study analyzes data from states that have extended legal recognition to same-sex couples. Analyses show that same-sex couples want and use these new legal statuses. Furthermore, they react more enthusiastically when marriage is possible. More than 40% of same-sex couples have formed legal unions in states where such recognition is available. Same-sex couples prefer marriage over civil unions or domestic partnerships. In the first year that marriage was offered in Massachusetts, 37% of same-sex couples there married. In states that offered civil unions, only 12% of same-sex couples took advantage of this status in the first year and only 10% did so in states with domestic partnership registries

Census Snapshot: Minnesota

June 11, 2008

Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, this report provides demographic and economic information about same-sex couples and same-sex couples raising children in Minnesota. We compare same-sex "unmarried partners," which the Census Bureau defines as an unmarried couple who "shares living quarters and has a close personal relationship," to different-sex married couples in Minnesota.