M.V. Lee Badgett says new findings that show married male same-sex couples earn on average $52K more than married lesbian couples, and $63K more than married straight couples, is due to the gender pay gap

M.V. Lee Badgett, economics and public policy and administration, says new findings that show married male same-sex couples earn an average of $176,000, $52,000 more than married lesbian couples and $63,000 more than married straight couples, is due to the gender pay gap. Badgett says in heterosexual couples, the pay gap affects only one partner, while in same-sex couples it has an impact on both people. She also says the higher earnings for lesbian couples is likely due to the fact that most same-sex couples live on the coasts or in urban areas of the country. (New York Times, 9/12/16)