One in ten couples have children
One in 10 same-sex couples have kids, according to new census data released yesterday.
The 2011 census found 12 per cent of same-sex couples have children, of any age, living with them in their family.
Almost 80 per cent of children in same-sex parented families were under 15 years of age.
Female same-sex couples were more likely to have children than male couples and it was more common for same-sex families to have fewer children living with them than straight families.
Rainbow Families Council spokeswoman Felicity Marlowe said 12 per cent was a 鈥渟ubstantial鈥� number.
She told the Star Observer GLBTI people have been living in families with children since before the census began.
鈥淎ll that the census data is doing now is accurately reflecting the reality of so many children鈥檚 lives,鈥� she said.
鈥淎 definite positive has been all the legislative changes on a state and federal level over the past five years where people now feel more able to answer those questions on the census.鈥�
鈥淭he difference between the previous 2006 census and the 2011 census is that on a state and federal level, laws have been introduced to recognise the parentage of children in same-sex couples so legally people are able to identify themselves.鈥�
Earlier this month, the 2011 census data revealed over 32,000 LGBTI couples in Australia, of which 1338 same-sex couples had married overseas.
