61K gay couples in tri-state area

An analysis of U. S. Census data by LGBT thinktank Williams Institute found there are more than 60,000 same-sex couples living in the tri-state region, with the highest concentration in the nation’s first state.

The Census numbers revealed that there are more than 33,600 same-sex couples in Pennsylvania, a population that is joined by 24,112 couples in New Jersey and 3,352 in Delaware, according to recent Williams Institute data.

While Pennsylvania has 6.7 same-sex households for every 1,000, New Jersey has 7.5 and Delaware has 9.79.

In Delaware, the greatest concentration of same-sex couples is in Rehoboth Beach — 81 couples — more than 10 percent of the city’s households. After Rehoboth, the highest concentrations of couples are in Edgemoor, Wilmington, Middletown and Bear.

Lisa Goodman, president of Equality Delaware, noted that the “welcoming climate of Rehoboth Beach may be responsible for the slightly higher per-capita number of same-sex couples choosing to make Delaware their state of residence.”

But, Goodman noted, the state’s pro-equality nature is not just limited to the beach town, evidenced by its recent passage of a civil-union measure, and she hopes more couples will move to Delaware once the law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2012.

New Jersey’s same-sex couples are concentrated in Ocean Grove, with 88 couples who represent 4.5 percent of the city’s population. Following Ocean Grove are Lambertville, Asbury Park, Collingswood and Upper Montclair.

Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].

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