A look at the disparity in health, disability, death, and retirement policy for lesbian &

gay families

Lisa M. PolyakNovember 2007

LPolyak@jhsph.edu

The Marriage Works campaign recognizes that the benefits of marriage have been quantified through decades of research. We’ve merely distilled these benefits into clear, simple messages that anyone can grasp instantly:

Kids of married parents do better in school

Married people enjoy better health

Married people make better parents

Kids of married parents do better economically

Kids of married parents are more likely to have long-lasting marriages

Married people live longer

Married people have lower rates of substance abuse

Married people are happier

Married people spend half as much time in hospitals

Married people live more stable, secure lives

Married people live more active lifestyles

Married women experience lower rates of domestic violence

Married people have better mental health

Boys raised by married parents are less likely to commit crimes

“The Marriage Works program is a natural progression in the work of

Campaign For Our Children (CFOC), a group whose mission has always

been to reduce teen pregnancy rates throughout the United States. Mature choices made by youth are most often the result of a stable family life and

role modeling of good parents.”

Janet Hardy, M.D.C.M., Janet Hardy, M.D.C.M.,

Pediatrics Professor Pediatrics Professor Emeritus, JHMIEmeritus, JHMI

CFOC Board of DirectorsCFOC Board of Directors

“I think marriage promotion is one component of a broader way to

help poor minority couples improve their standard of living.”

Andrew J. Cherlin, PhD, Griswold Professor Andrew J. Cherlin, PhD, Griswold Professor

of Public Policy, Sociology Department, JHU, of Public Policy, Sociology Department, JHU,

in in Couples Take Baby Steps to “I Do”, Couples Take Baby Steps to “I Do”,

Baltimore Sun, November 25, 2007Baltimore Sun, November 25, 2007

DEMOGRAPHICS of SAME-SEX FAMILIES in the US*

8.8 million lesbian, gay & bisexual adults

779,867 same-sex couples

53.5% couples are male

46.5% couples are female

39% of same-sex couples have kids in the household

* All demographic data from Census 2000, updated by 2006 American Community Survey

DEMOGRAPHICS of UNMARRIED COUPLES with

KIDS

19.9% of opposite-sex couples raising children have been together for 5+ years

41.1% of same-sex couples raising children have been together for 5+ years

MORE DEMOGRAPHICS of SAME-SEX FAMILIES in the

USSame-sex couples are twice as likely as

married couples to be black or HispanicSame-sex couples are twice as likely as

married couples to be interracialThe children of same-sex couples are

similarly diverse: 45% are children of color (30% for married couples)

DEMOGRAPHICS of SAME-SEX HOUSEHOLDS in

MARYLANDAverage household income for same-

sex couples with kids is $33,000 lower than for married couples with kids

Home ownership rate for same-sex couples with kids is 30% lower than for married couples with kids

80% of same-sex couples are employed compared to 70% of married couples

Religious Marriage

Civil Marriage

Gay Marriage

Same-Sex Marriage

Why is access to civil marriage a PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE ???

Civil marriage provides protection to families at times

of greatest vulnerability

Birth DeathDisability Retirement

Unemployment

Immigration Costs

Immigration and legal fees to obtain permanent residence or citizenship for foreign national spouse: $250

Immigration and legal fees to obtain permanent residence or citizenship for foreign national spouse: $6,500

Home Ownership Costs

Tax penalty for adding married partner to property deed*

Local Tax : $0 State Tax: $0

Tax penalty for adding unmarried partner to property deed*

Local Tax: $7,500 State Tax: $1,500* Based on home valued at $300,000 in Baltimore City

Adoption Costs

Adoption fees to obtain legal relationship to biological child: $0/child

Total cost for 2 child family: $0

Adoption fees to obtain legal relationship to biological child: $2,500/child

Total Cost for 2 child family: $5,000

Statewide 2nd parent adoption available in only 7 states & DC

Health Insurance Costs

Annual premium for family of 4: $3,640

Annual Cost: $3,640

Annual premium for family (1 parent + 2 kids): $ 3,640

Annual premium for 2nd parent: $3,084

Annual deductible for 2nd parent: $500

Annual Cost: $7,224

Health Insurance Costs

Tax penalty for covering married partner on employer provided health insurance

Annual Cost: $0

Tax penalty for covering unmarried partner on employer provided health insurance

Annual Cost: $875** Federal income tax based on $60,000 annual salary

Social Security Benefits Upon Death of a Parent

Social Security for surviving children: $1,494/month/child

Annual Benefit for 2 kids: $35,856

Social Security for surviving biological child: $1,494/month/child

Social Security for surviving non-biological child: $0/month/child

Annual Benefit for 2 kids: $17,928

Upon death of one parent Social Security income

for surviving parent: $1,494/month

Annual Benefit: $17,928

Upon death of one parent

Social Security income for surviving parent: $0/month

Annual Benefit: $ 0

Social Security Benefits Upon Death of a Parent

Social Security Benefits Upon Retirement

Benefit for spouse who reaches full retirement age: $ 1,993/month

Annual Benefit: $23,916

Benefit for spouse who reaches full retirement age: $ 0/month

Annual Benefit: $ 0

Survivor and Estate Costs

State Inheritance Tax on family home valued at $300,000

Tax: $0

State Inheritance Tax on family home valued at $300,000

Tax: $15,000*

* Survivor must pay Maryland inheritance tax (10%) on half the value of the family home (married couples pay nothing).

Survivor and Estate Costs

401(k) may be rolled into surviving spouse’s IRA

Funds continue to accrue tax-free until withdrawal

Income Tax: $0*

401(k) may not be rolled into surviving partner’s IRA

Mandatory lump sum payment subject to Federal income tax

Income Tax: $23,000** Federal income tax based on 401(k) account valued at $100,000

Benefit Summary

Social Security Income for Surviving Children:

$35,856/yr $17,928/yr

Social Security Income for Surviving Parent:

$17,928/yr $0/yr

Social Security Income for Spouse upon

Retirement:$23,916/yr $0/yr

Cost Summary

Immigration fees for spouse: $250 $6,500

Home ownership tax: $0 $9,000

Adoption fees for children: $ 0 $5,000

Family health insurance: $3,640/yr $7,224/yr

Tax on partner health insurance:

$0 $875/yr

Inheritance tax on family home:

$ 0 $15,000

Income tax paid by surviving spouse on deceased’s 401(k):

$ 0 $23,000

CIVIL MARRIAGE

Protecting Families,

Improving Quality of

Life ~ Millions at a

Time

GJ Gates, “ Geographic Trends Among Same-Sex Couples in the US Census and the American Community Survey”, The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy, UCLA School of Law, Nov 2007

MA Ash and MVL Badgett, “Separate and Unequal: The Effect of Unequal Access to Employment-Based Health Insurance on Same-sex and Unmarried Different-sex Couples,” Contemporary Economic Policy, Volume 24, No. 4, October 2006

GJ Gates, “Same-sex Couples and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Population: New Estimates from the American Community Survey”, The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy, UCLA School of Law, Oct 2006

RBSears, G JGates, and WB Rubenstein, “Same-Sex Couples and Same-Sex Couples Raising Children in The United States Data from the Census 2000,” The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy, UCLA School of Law, September 2005

L Bennett, and GJ Gates, “The Cost of Marriage Inequality to Children and Their Same-Sex Parents”, A Human Rights Campaign Foundation Report, April 13, 2004