Normalization of Gay & Lesbian Lifestyles

Introduction

Census 2000, according to Lee Condon (2001), may be remembered as the first gay and lesbian census because the federal head-counters made a first attempt to enumerate gay and lesbian households. As the data were released, it was revealed that 1.2 million same-sex "unmarried partners" had been identified. Single gays and lesbians were left out of this part of the census count, while a study commissioned by a national gay lobby group called the Human Rights Campaign estimated that Census 2000 undercounted gay and lesbian couples by a factor of 62 percent (Condon, 2001).

Regardless of whether or not Census 2000 depicted an accurate profile of the gay and lesbian families or partnerships in the United States, what was revealed by this census effort is that an increasing number of American households are populated by gay or lesbian partners who may have children from previous relationships, adoption, or other procreative efforts (Condon, 2001).

The proliferation of gay and lesbian or same-sex couples in the United States was underscored by Census 2000. It reported such couples in 99.3 percent of the counties throughout the United States, leaving only 22 counties with no federal record of having gay or lesbian residents. What these data suggest is a gradual move toward the normalization of gay and lesbian partnerships or families.

According to Condon (2001), a recent study of gay and lesbian voting habits conducted by Harr

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to demands that any and all forms of discrimination against gays and lesbians be eliminated. Gays and lesbians have made some significant gains in the past 10 or so years. It is believed that the growing number of men and women who are "coming out" and openly declaring their sexual orientation represent a potentially powerful interest group; many gays and lesbians in corporate America are highly educated, skilled and valued employees. Resistance to change tends to be most dominant and visible in smaller businesses. The lead in "normalizing" work relations for gays and lesbians is being taken by the formerly conservative, old-line, blue-chip Fortune 500 companies, which are also moving more rapidly than other businesses to extend family benefits to partners of gays and lesbians (Gallagher, 1997). Perhaps more significantly, the state of Vermont began on July 1, 2000, to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples (Here come the brides, 2002). Under the law, civil unions between same-sex couples have been legalized. As of January 4, 2002, Vermont had issued a total of 3,471 civil union licenses. Of those, 1,180 were given to male couples and 2,291 to female couples. A psychology professor at the University of Vermont sugg

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