Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Relationships

Intimate same-sex relationships have existed throughout history and in places across the globe. This entry presents scientific knowledge about gay and lesbian relationships in contemporary society. Although the relationships of bisexuals are not well understood, key findings are highlighted. A notable limitation of current knowledge is that most research has been conducted in the United States with primarily White, middle-class people.

About 1 percent of adult women self-identify as lesbian and 2 percent of adult men self-identify as gay. Many of these individuals have an intimate relationship. In an illustrative project, demographers Christopher Carpenter and Gary J. Gates analyzed representative surveys and census data from California. They estimated that about 40 percent of gay men and more than 50 percent of lesbians age 18 to 59 are currently living with a same-sex partner. In comparison, about 60 percent of heterosexuals age 18 to 59 are currently living with an other-sex partner. At the time of this study, same-sex couples in California could register as domestic partners with rights and responsibilities similar to those of married heterosexuals. Carpenter and Gates found that almost half of cohabiting lesbians are registered as domestic partners, compared with less than a quarter of cohabiting gay men. U.S. Census data show that gay and lesbian couples can be found in all parts of the country.

The experiences of same-sex couples in the United States are influenced by the social stigma of homosexuality. Although social attitudes are becoming more tolerant, many gay and lesbian individuals and couples report incidents of social rejection, prejudice, and discrimination. In national polls, only half of Americans say that same-sex couples should be allowed to form legally recognized civil unions or domestic partnerships. The topic of same-sex marriage continues to be a source of heated controversy.

Despite the differing social contexts for samesex and heterosexual relationships, there are many commonalities in the close romantic relationships of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual individuals. Human needs for intimacy and the capacity to form strong emotional attachments affect all of us. Most adults want to have a committed love relationship, and lesbians and gay men are no exception. In one national survey, three of four lesbians and gay men said that if same-sex marriage were legal, they would like to get married at some time in their lives. Whatever their sexual orientation, most individuals seek similar qualities in a romantic partner, including affection, dependability, shared interests, and similarity of religious beliefs.