Facts

The sanctity of marriage is at the center of today's culture war in America. Social conservatives see marriage being attacked by a disintegration of family values and by the advent of gay marriage. Others claim that marriage is making a bit of a comeback and that gay-marriages, rather than harming the santity of marriage, reinforce it.

General

How many Americans are married:

• 120.2 million Americans are married (2000) (54% of population 15 years +) (Census).

Percent of couples that are unmarried. Unmarried couples that live together (NORC) make up:

• 1997: 7% of all couples; 4.1% of all families
• 1990: 5.1% of all couples; 3.1% of all families
• 1980: 3.1% of all couples; 2% of all families

Same sex couples

Number of unmarried same sex couples living together in the US (Census):

The Skinny

see also background & facts, pro & con, links

What's Up

In November 2003, a Massachusetts’ Supreme Court decision legitimizing gay marriages sparked a nationwide debate that had same-sex couples running to the altar and state governments scrambling to define who could and who could not get hitched. President Bush brought the debate to DC by endorsing a change to the Constitution that would outlaw same-sex marriages. So far there’s been more bark than bite to the debates, with the status of gay marriages little altered since '03 and there being a small likelihood Congress will pass a constitutional amendment anytime soon. (Attempts in the Senate got nowhere in '04, '05 or '06.) But the pandora’s box of same-sex marriages has been flung open and no doubt the debate will simmer for years.

Facts

Since a lot of the debates surrounding reproductive health - abortion, birth control and STDs - are particularly concerned with youth and sexual behavior, cJ thought a separate fact page on teens and sex was in order.

Contraception use

What percent of teens used contraception the first time they had sex? (2002) (CDC)

females

• none: 25.5%
• condom: 66.4%
• pill: 16.5%
• withdrawal: 7.5%
• dual methods (condom and hormonal): 13.1%

males

• none: 18%
• condom: 70.9%
• pill: 14.9%
• withdrawal: 9.8%
• dual methods (condom and hormonal): 10.4%

What percent of teen females have used emergency contraception (such as Plan B)? (2002)

• 8.1%

Percent of teen females who had sex 3 months before the interview who used: (2002)