Calif. Gay Black Households More Likely To Parent, But Suffer Economically

Calif. Gay Black Households More Likely To Parent, But Suffer Economically
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: February 17, 2005 11:01 am. ET

(San Francisco, California) A study of same-sex African-American couples in California offers encouragement along with concerns.

The report, prepared by the National Gay and Lesbian task Force shows that in Los Angeles and San Francisco black gay and lesbian families are often invisible. Yet, the study says, African-American gay households show a high rate of parenting.

Black lesbian households are almost as likely as Black married opposite-sex couple households to include children and are three times as likely to report serving in the military, the study, based on the 2000 census, shows.

It also shows that black same sex couples are more likely to work in the public sector. But the study indicates that African-American gay couples earn significantly less than White gay or lesbian couples.

Los Angeles ranks fifth among U.S. cities in number of Black same-sex households, behind New York and Atlanta and ahead of Houston, Detroit, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Miami.

Black female same-sex households in Los Angeles parent at rates comparable to Black married opposite-sex couple households. Nearly three in five Black female same-sex households in Los Angeles (59%) have at least one child. Sixty- eight percent of Black married opposite-sex couple households have at least one child.

Black women in same-sex households in Los Angeles report serving in the military at three times the rate of Black women in married opposite-sex households (9% vs. 3%). Nationally, Black women are discharged under the military’s ban on lesbian and gay service members at rates far exceeding their representation in the armed forces: although they make up less than 1% of the military, they represent 3% of all discharges.

San Francisco ranks eighth among U.S. cities in number of Black same-sex households.

Nearly half of Black female same-sex couples in the city (45%) have at least one child. Sixty-six percent of Black married opposite-sex couple households have at least one child.

"Anti- gay leaders and organizations have long sought to divide the Black and gay communities, speaking as if there are no Black lesbian and gay people experiencing discrimination under key family policies," said H. Alexander Robinson, Strategic Director of the National Black Justice Coalition.

"In fact, this study clearly identifies a large population of Black same-sex couples in the U.S., more than half of whom are raising children."

But, the study also shows that African-American same-sex couples make far less than either their White same-sex counterparts or heterosexual couples of either race.

In San Francisco, Black same-sex couples more than $6,000 less per year than Black married opposite-sex couples, and nearly $30,000 less than White same-sex couples.

In Los Angeles, Black same-sex couples earn more than $17,000 less per year than White same-sex couples.

"This study demonstrates the strength and struggle of Black same-sex families," said Matt Foreman, NGLTF executive director.

"As we celebrate Black History Month, we must carry on the legacies of African-American gay leaders, Bayard Rustin, Audre Lourde and James Baldwin. We must fight as they did to break down the matrix of discrimination based on race, class, sexual orientation, and gender identity."

©365Gay.com 2005