Final answer:
It is difficult to determine trends in same-sex marriage and cohabitation due to the evolving legal landscape, variations in state laws, and the historical lack of recognition and rights for same-sex couples, which have affected census reporting and federal benefits.
Step-by-step explanation:
Difficulty in Determining Trends in Same-Sex Marriage and Cohabitation
Assessing trends regarding marriage and cohabitation for same-sex couples in the U.S. is challenging due to several factors. Historically, there has been a significant evolution in the legal landscape for same-sex marriage. In the 1990s, legal same-sex marriage seemed unlikely, with neither major political party in support. This began to change when Vermont allowed state-recognized civil unions, offering similar rights and privileges to marriage without calling it such. Sociologically, couples in states where they were denied the legal right to marry encountered negative impacts. The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) of 1996 defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman, allowing states to refuse recognition of same-sex marriages from other states. In 2008, California's Proposition 8 limited marriage to opposite-sex unions, further complicating recognition.
Public opinion on same-sex marriage has shifted, with recent polls showing a majority in favor of legalization. However, disparities between state laws persisted until the landmark 2015 Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage federally. Before this, states varied on same-sex marriage laws, civil unions, and domestic partnerships. Additionally, varying legal recognition affected census reporting and federal benefits, making trends harder to discern. With evolving legal statuses, different partnerships offered different rights, and this inconsistency contributed to the difficulty in identifying clear trends.
Despite legal advances, some churches and businesses continue to challenge the notion that they should be forced to recognize or support same-sex marriages that conflict with religious beliefs. Furthermore, the prohibition of marriage had practical consequences on visitation rights, inheritance, and benefits, often leading to legal battles for same-sex partners. As a result of growing social acceptance and the Obergefell ruling, there has been an increase in the number of reported same-sex couple households, but the continuous legal changes over time mean establishing clear trends is complicated.