This brief compares metropolitan census tracts that improved with respect to poverty in the 1990s (poverty rate decreased by 5 percentage points or more) with those that worsened (poverty rate increased by 5 points or more); looking at the racial composition of both types and how the shares in both types varied in different locations within metropolitan areas and in different types of metropolitan areas nationally. It finds that while trends by these measures were considerably more favorable than in the 1980s, the 1990s still saw a mix of improving and worsening neighborhoods almost everywhere, warranting local action to address the challenges that both imply.

Discussion and debate about adoption and foster care by gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) parents occurs frequently among policymakers, social service agencies, and social workers. Three states currently restrict GLB people from adopting and more are considering similar policies. This report provides new information on GLB adoption and foster care from several government data sources. It offers a demographic portrait of the estimated 65,500 adopted children and 14,100 foster children living with gay and lesbian parents. It also assesses the costs to child welfare systems of proposed bans on allowing GLB people to foster.

Panelists discussed a new study from the Williams Institute and the Urban Institute that explores the characteristics of lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals who are adoptive or foster parents and those who would like to adopt children. Listen to the podcast.

This Web Exclusive analyzes the changes in insurance coverage between 2000 and 2004 and finds that the six million increase in the number of uninsured all was among adults. Although both adults and children experienced a 4.6 percentage point drop in the share with employer-sponsored coverage, children were much more likely to obtain public coverage than adults. The analysis also documents that there was a shift from working in industries that historically have had high rates of employer coverage to those with low coverage rates, and from large and medium-sized firms to small firms and self-employment. (Health Affairs Web Exclusive, November 2005)

This paper examines the trajectory of low-income neighborhoods in Chicago, classifying them by their economic, housing, racial, and immigrant characteristics. It finds that while Chicago's low-income neighborhoods generally improved notably, the low-income communities closest to downtown enjoyed most significant gains. The city's overwhelmingly black neighborhoods also improved, though they continued to lose substantial portions of their population. Most neighborhoods with high proportions of immigrants declined on a number of economic measures, but the substantial population growth in these neighborhoods bodes well for their future.

Nearly 20,000 gay men and more than 16,000 lesbians are estimated to be on active duty, representing 2.5 percent of active duty personnel. An estimated 65,000 gay men and lesbians are in uniform when those in the National Guard and reservists are included, or some 2.8 percent of all military personnel. [Read the corresponding report online.]

Using data from Census 2000, this research brief estimates the size of the gay and lesbian population serving in the military and provides a demographic portrait of this often invisible minority. Census data make clear that gay men and lesbians are actively serving in the armed forces now and have served throughout the later part of the 20th century. However, their patterns of service are not precisely the same as those of other men and women. Coupled gay men are less likely to report military service than other men, while coupled lesbians are more likely than other women to serve. [Read the corresponding press release online.]

[Financial Times] Not too long ago, only a few large U.S. cities, such as San Francisco and New York, were thought of as gay meccas. Today, hundreds of American towns bear gay markings, not only in the form of a few fluttering rainbow flags but in thriving urban businesses, suburban cultural offerings and revitalized holiday venues. This article uses findings from The Gay and Lesbian Atlas (Urban Institute Press, 2004) to show there is more than anecdotal evidence to support the growing belief that gay and lesbians are vital to many American communities.

Marriage is a topic that has both united and divided Americans in 2004. While the Healthy Marriage proposal ("to encourage the formation and maintenance of healthy two parent married families and responsible fatherhood") languishes in the Senate as part of welfare reform's reauthorization, civil unions and same-sex marriage are debated everywhere voters turn. This fact sheet presents data and estimates behind two aspects of the marriage debate--healthy marriage education and same-sex marriage--using Urban Institute research on the well-being of children living with cohabiting, married, and same-sex couples.

[Investor's Business Daily] More than 7,400 companies now offer equal benefits to the same-sex partners of their employees. But divergent national, state and local laws affecting same-sex couples and their families are sending businesses into unclear territory. This oped argues that national recognition of same-sex marriage would benefit companies by allowing them to treat all their employees equally with regard to employment policies.