(Getty Images)
The number of same-sex couples who call New Jersey home increased significantly over the last 10 years, according to the latest census figures.
There are 24,112 same-sex couples living in New Jersey — a 45 percent increase from 2000, according to the 2010 Census. By comparison, New York City has 32,972 same-sex couples.
The sharpest increase was in Asbury Park, which had a 305 percent gain in the same sex couples. Hoboken (70.7 percent increase), Jersey City (44.2 percent) and Newark (12.7 percent) all saw significant increases.
Anthony Newarski and his partner Rick Goeden are among the 243 same-sex couples who live in Asbury Park.
Newarski, who helps run John C. Conover real estate agency, said the neighborhood has been transformed by gay couples moving into the area.
"Ten years ago, probably 50 percent of these houses were boarded up or they were rooming houses," he said. "Beautiful Victorians were chopped up into boarding houses, and the gay community started coming in, buying them up, fixing them up, making them back into single, beautiful homes."
Amy Quinn, an attorney and vice chair of the Monmouth County Democratic Committee, said gay rights groups strongly encouraged members to fill out their census forms accurately.
"Particularly with marriage equality being a hot button issue in areas like New York and New Jersey, our community wanted to ensure we were properly counted," Quinn said. "We understand that our political power lies in our own visibility."
The census also revealed that the Asian population grew by nearly half — by 275,862, or 52 percent. Nearly half that growth came from the Asian Indian community, which added 130,353 people, a 72 percent increase from 2000.
The state's Chinese population grew by 35 percent, or 36,470, while the Korean and Filipino count each grew by a little over 31,000.
The state’s Latino population grew by 39 percent. The greatest demographic shift, among Latinos, took place within the state's Mexican community, which added another 114,786 residents, more than doubling its numbers. That makes it half the size of the state's Puerto Rican population, which is 434,092.
Arun Venugopal is a reporter and the creator of Micropolis, WNYC’s multi-platform series examining race, sexuality, religion, street life and other issues that define New York City. He has been with the station since 2005, and has covered a wide range of stories, including the death of Sean Bell, the controversy over the Park 51 mosque and community center and Occupy Wall Street .
Comments [4]
Jenny and others.. remember.. these numbers are based on COUPLES..couples who responded to the census AS a couple. The numbers might seem flawed as it doesnt count the SINGLE gays & lesbians across the state. If every response on the census specified orientation, the overall numbers would paint a different picture. So dont get mad if your town didnt make the list. Again, this is only registered couples only.
And at least we're being counted at all.
Jenny and others.. remember.. these numbers are based on COUPLES..couples who responded to the census AS a couple. The numbers might seem flawed as it doesnt count the SINGLE gays & lesbians across the state. If every response on the census specified orientation, the overall numbers would paint a different picture. So dont get mad if your town didnt make the list. Again, this is only registered couples only.
And at least we're being counted at all.
I disagree with these numbers. Jersey City provides all of the LGBT social services to Hudson County residents (which includes hoboken, the Mile Square City). Jersey City still has the largest population of LGBT residents. Jersey City has a gay bar, gay parade, and August is LGBT month in Jersey City, which includes a 2 day festival. This has been going on for years now in Jersey City, almost a decade.
Hoboken on the other hand is having it's first ever gay parade this year, and it's first evert gay flag raising day ever this year as well. Hoboken's only gay bar closed as well.
These statistics are dead wrong. End of story.
teh interesting thing is how the gays move into decrepid communities, and the communities become good places to live.
There was an article on this subject a couple years ago that covered this phenomenon nationally.
the big question is when are we going to grant gays full equal rights under our civil laws.
Including marriage. So opposed by the right wing xtians who are heirs to the culture of slavery, the kkk, and segregation.
And the catholic church, where while a majority of catholics support gay CIVIL marriage, and 3 to 1 support civil unions, the church comes up with endless irrational arguments to stop gay marriage.
What are they hiding - the endless hidden molestation of children all over the world by the church - Old lonley priests, who long ago were told that masturbation and sex were forbiddern.
Eventually those desires come out, and pick up at the age when they were crushed.
And btw about 20% of the victims were girls. Wwhy so few- because girls were not allowed to be alter girls until recently.
http://www.philadelphiadistrictattorney.com/images/Grand_Jury_Report.pdf (molestation)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_abuse_scandal_in_the_Congregation_of_Christian_Brothers (a Catholic group that runs reform schools and orphanages in Ireland, italy, etc
Leave a Comment
Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.