Gary Gates on the past, present and future LGBT movement

Sarah Toce | Windy City Times | August 26, 2015

Researching the demographic characteristics of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender population is no easy task, but it’s a business Blachford-Cooper Distinguished Scholar & Williams Institute Research Director Gary J. Gates has perfected over time.

“I see much of my work as attempting to make visible LGBT populations that have historically not been visible in data sources often used to inform public policy [like the U.S. Census],” Gates said. “This can promote further academic research, but also can help advocates for LGBT rights by providing data to support policy arguments. For example, Justice Kennedy cited my research in his majority opinion in Obergefell as showing that same-sex couples were providing loving and nurturing homes to hundreds of thousands of children.”

Gates earned his B.S. at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, his M.Div. at St. Vincent College and his Ph.D. at Carnegie Mellon University.

“My doctoral dissertation involved the first large demographic analyses of same-sex couples and their families using 1990 U.S. Census data, which was the first time that cohabiting same-sex couples [who were not roommates or siblings] could be identified,” he said. “Over the years, much of my work focused on understanding the characteristics of same-sex couples and their families using subsequent Census Bureau data resources. I have also promoted inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity measures in other large data sources to allow for the study of LGBT populations beyond those in same-sex couples.”

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