We're Here, We're Queer, They're Used to It

The Economist reports:

The last full census, in 2000, counted nearly 600,000 same-sex couples. Five years later, the American Community Survey (in which the Census Bureau quizzes a statistically representative sample of 1.4m households) estimated that that number had increased by 30%, to 777,000.

The increase was most pronounced in the Midwest, with Wisconsin showing an 81% jump in the number of same-sex couples and Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, Ohio, Iowa, Missouri and Indiana also among the ten fastest-growing states in this respect. What this means, perhaps, is that gay America is becoming more like Middle America. “Much of the stereotype around gays is a stereotype of urban white gay men,” says Mr Gates. “The gay community is becoming less like that, and more like the population in general.” Gay couples are still more likely than straight ones to live in cities, but the gap is smaller than popularly believed, and closing. In 1990, 92% of gay couples but only 77% of American households were in what the Census Bureau calls “urban clusters”. By 2000, the gay figure had fallen to 84% while the proportion for households in general had risen to 80%, a striking convergence.

Over the last several days, the Caucus has been screening candidates seeking to win offices in this November's city elections. We're talking to candidates from all over the city, not just Montrose, and as we look forward to elections in 2008, we're even planning on targeting state rep. districts outside the 610 loop. As the above article describes, GLBT families exist everywhere, and we can demonstrate our influence everywhere. I truly believe we're fast approaching the threshold of significant change. We owe so much to the previous generation of activists. Those queers got out there, everywhere, and now everyone's used to us.

Unfortunately, we still don't have equality, but Houston and America is ready, so let's get to work.