The geography of immigrants in same-sex couples in the United States

Abstract

The policy landscape for same-sex couples in the United States has changed rapidly in recent years, and the number of immigrants in same-sex couples has markedly increased. Little is known, however, about where these lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) immigrants settle and experience these shifting policy environments. Using American Community Survey data from 2008–2023 and original datasets, this paper studies the geographic context of immigrants in same-sex cohabiting couples in the U.S., comparing them to immigrants in different-sex couples and the U.S.-born in same-sex couples. We find that the distribution of immigrants in same-sex couples is expanding across the U.S. over time. Individually, these immigrants resemble U.S.-born LGBQ Americans, with higher incomes and educational attainment. At the geographic level, they appear more distinct, clustering in areas with more LGBTQ+ nonprofit organisations, greater numbers of immigrants, higher density, and higher property values than the areas where straight immigrants or the U.S.-born in same-sex couples tend to live. Our findings contribute to a fuller understanding of this rapidly growing population and its unique characteristics.