The number of same sex couples living together in Utah has increased, according to the American Community Survey, an extension of the U.S. Census.

In the 2000 U.S. Census, there were a reported 1,665 gay and 1,705 lesbian couples living together. In 2007, those numbers increased to 2,332 gay and 2,217 lesbian couples living together, according to the American Community Survey.

"The level of tolerance for various aspects of homosexual conduct being okay has become more widespread," said Professor Stephen Duncan, from the School of Family Life. "We're in an era now where the homosexual movement has defined their issues as civil rights issues, and they're getting a lot more attention."

Utah stood out in the 2000 U.S. Census as having the highest percentage of married individuals in all age ranges. For individuals aged 25-34 years, 68.8 percent reported being married.

"I believe it's the influence of the [LDS] church," said Duncan. "In Utah we have between 70 and 75 percent of the population that are LDS."

In spite of high marriage rates, the 2007 American Community Survey reported a 38 percent jump in the amount of unmarried heterosexual partners living together in Utah.

"In the general population, you see high levels of cohabitation where 60 percent of the population is cohabiting before marriage," said Duncan. "All that reflects is a lower level of commitment in general."

Laura Nelson, a grad student teaching in the School of Family Life, said while the number of couples cohabitating is increasing across the board, she didn't see a connection between the increased rate of heterosexual couples living together and the increased rate of homosexual couples living together.

"I don't think they're related because you're looking at two very different groups," Nelson said, "one that's choosing not to get married and live together, and one that's choosing to live together because they can't get married."

Both Nelson and Duncan said in addition to cohabitation, single adults today are delaying marriage until later in life.

"There's a propensity to delay marriage," said Duncan. "That is a major trend. The average age of marriage has increased, even among Latter-day Saints."

People are having smaller families, said Nelson, because they are having a harder time getting pregnant later.

"You set your whole life timetable later," she added.

Households in Utah were comprised of 62 percent married couples in both 2006 and 2007, according to the American Community Survey. About 25 percent of all daytime BYU students are married, according to the BYU Web site.



Copyright Brigham Young University 1 Oct 2008