Improvements in research and theory on wedding and household are inherently shaped because of the changing contours of household life as time passes. For instance, during the decade that is past increases within the number of individuals who cohabit away from wedding have already been associated with vast enhancement when you look at the techniques and information utilized to review cohabiting couples (Kroeger & Smock, 2014).

Lots of facets point out similarly significant improvements in information and research on same-sex relationships within the future that is near.

First, how many people in same-sex unions is significant; current information through the U.S. Census indicate that about 650,000 same-sex partners live in the usa, with 114,100 of the partners in legal marriages and another 108,600 in a few other kind of lawfully recognized partnership (Gates, 2013b).

2nd, the increasing wide range of states that lawfully recognize marriage that is same-sexnow at 19 states and also the District of Columbia, and probably more because of enough time this short article is posted), plus the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal regarding the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013 recommend you will have a lot more legally hitched same-sex partners into the years ahead.

3rd, growing efforts because of the authorities to determine same-sex partners in U.S. Census counts and nationwide studies ( e.g., the nationwide wellness Interview Survey) and also to fund research on intimate minority populations signify scientists could have brand brand brand new types of information with which to examine same-sex relationships in the foreseeable future.