The United States Census Bureau reported in 1998 that only 56% of the adult population was married and living with their spouse. More than 19 million adults or about 10% of the adult population was divorced. The number of adults who have never married has more than doubled in the past two decades, growing from 21.4 million in 1970 to 45.9 million in 1997.

About 12 million households in the nation contain single-parent families, mostly headed by women but with a growing percentage headed by men. There were about 4.1 million opposite-sex unmarried couples, of which more than 35% had children under 15 years old living with them. Another 1.7 million households contained two unrelated adults of the same sex.

The number of marriages performed annually in Vermont dropped slightly between 1996 and 1998. The number of divorces rose a little.

Living arrangements in Vermont are quite diverse, although married-couple households remain the dominant type. About 23% of the state’s households consist of a single adult living alone. More than 8% contain single-parent families. Another 8% of housing units include unrelated adults, some of whom are roommates while others are unmarried partners. Unmarried adult relatives live in another 4% of Vermont households. Married couples reside in some 56% of the state’s housing units.

It is difficult to estimate the numbers of gays and lesbians living in Vermont since sexual orientation is often considered such a private matter. It is also difficult to determine what percentage of the population is homosexual, bisexual, or heterosexual in their sexual orientation since this status does not lend itself easily to objective quantification or labeling.

It is also hard to ascertain what percentage of a region’s households contain domestic partners since most demographic data places those who are unmarried partners and those who are merely roommates in the same category.

However, estimates can be formulated when census data, employee-benefits enrollment information, and private polling results are analyzed and compared.

Despite all of these difficulties, one conclusion is fairly certain. If Vermont becomes the only state to legalize same-sex marriage, it is probable that tens of thousands of same-sex couples from other states would travel to Vermont to marry. Such interstate travel would be stimulated by the presumed portability of their newly acquired marital status, thus enabling these couples to demand marital benefits and protections in their home states.

If the Legislature were to enact a comprehensive domestic partnership act instead, the incentive for unmarried couples to travel to Vermont would be greatly diminished. Since no other state has yet adopted a comprehensive domestic partnership act, it is highly questionable that other states would be required to recognize Vermont domestic partnerships as the equivalent of marriage within their own borders.

The question does arise, however, as to the number of unmarried couples who live in Vermont, including same-sex couples, who might register as domestic partners if a statewide registry system were created by the Legislature.

Based on a variety of demographic data, it would be fair to conclude that during the first year of operation perhaps as many as 1,000 or more same-sex couples might take advantage of such a system and that possibly 2,000 or more heterosexual couples (including some seniors) may do the same. However, due to their unfamiliarity with the new system and a feeling of uncertainty over the significance of the new legal status they would acquire, many of these couples may not immediately jump at the chance to register as domestic partners. Some may prefer to delay their final decision on the matter until they can see how the system operates in real life, letting others test the waters.