Ten years after the historic Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, which legalized same-sex marriage in the United States, the number of same-sex households continues to rise.
According to a new study conducted by the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan and independent research institute, the number of married same-sex couples increased from about 425,000 in 2015 to approximately 775,000 in 2023, now accounting for 1.3% of all married households in the country. When including unmarried cohabiting couples, the percentage rises to 5.6%.
The data, published during Pride Month, comes from a survey of over 1,100 queer adults. Most respondents said they chose to marry for love, companionship, and mutual commitment. However, for 64% of those surveyed, legal rights also represented a major motivation for formalizing the union making marriage, for many, a decision rooted in legal protection and security.
Although legal recognition has contributed to growing social acceptance and two-thirds of the LGBTQ+ community believe the Obergefell decision had a positive impact, new warning signs are emerging. Some Republican lawmakers, particularly in states like Idaho, have passed non-binding resolutions urging the Supreme Court to reconsider the ruling.
Currently, more than half of U.S. states still have laws or constitutional amendments in place that prohibit same-sex marriage. While these are no longer enforceable thanks to the Supreme Court’s ruling, such “zombie laws” remain on the books, especially in the South and Midwest regions where same-sex families are less common.
The Southern Baptist Convention, one of the largest religious denominations in the U.S., has also recently reaffirmed its opposition to marriage equality, calling for laws that reflect “natural and divine law.” The resolution, passed in Dallas, Texas, received broad support among church delegates.
The Pew study also provides an insightful socioeconomic snapshot: male same-sex couples show higher-than-average levels of income and education, with a median household income of $172,689, compared to $121,900 for female couples and $121,000 for heterosexual couples. However, parenting remains far less common among same-sex families: only 10% of male couples and 31% of female couples are raising children, compared to 53% of different-sex couples.
The reasons are manifold: biological barriers, fear of discrimination, and the high costs associated with adoption, assisted reproduction, or surrogacy. A 2024 study by the Williams Institute found that 32% of same-sex couples cited the lack of access to gametes or a uterus as a concrete obstacle.
Despite these challenges, relationship satisfaction remains high: about 63% of respondents described their relationship as “very good.” Married couples, in particular, reported being more satisfied than their unmarried counterparts.
