New information appended.

The number of Oregonians who reported living in same-sex couple households increased nearly 68 percent from 2000 to 2010, from about 8,900 to 14,980.

according an analysis of

data by

The increase mirrors that of every other state where same-sex data have been released. Even so, reported same-sex households account for less than 1 percent of households statewide, the data released this week show.

In Portland, same-sex couples make up 2 percent of households -- the most in the state. And about 60 percent of the state's gay and lesbian couples reside in the metro area.

Experts say the jump most likely reflects a greater willingness to report relationships than an actual surge.

"How much of that is real, reflecting people's actual living arrangements, or how much is it people's attitudes about reporting it?" asked

, a Population Research Center analyst.

Thomas Wheatley, spokesman for advocacy group

, said it's mostly the latter.

"Communities are more welcoming, attitudes are changing, and as a result, folks are choosing to report their status of same-sex relationships on census and other forms," he said. "This is a reflection of a lot having changed in the last 10 to 20 years."

The

found that stigma as well as the census's imprecise questioning still lead to undercounts.

Still, Portland resident Bree Abbey said being counted matters.

"One of the many forms of oppression is to just completely make a community silent or invisible," said Abbey, 26. Being counted in the census "is not the most important issue facing the our community, but it is a step in the right direction."

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Abbey agreed that the national trend is probably the result of better reporting because people are more comfortable revealing their sexual orientations.

Abbey became part of a more local trend when she moved to Northeast Portland and then to North Portland with her partner, Randi Orth, a few years back. That's because 23 of the state's 25 census tracts with the most female same-sex households are on Portand's east side, with the other two in Ashland and Eugene.

And the two tracts with the most female households, by number and percentage, are in tracts that cover parts of the Kenton-Portsmouth and Irvington neighborhoods.

Abbey said that's not surprising. North and Northeast feel safe and comfortable, she said.

"There are a lot of queer-friendly events and culture that happens in North/Northeast Portland," she said. "It might be having restaurants, bars and coffee shops that have a little rainbow sticker on their door to let you know they are aware and accepting, or that visually I see people who are reflective of me."

But male same-sex households are more prominent on Portland's west side, particularly in the Pearl District and Goose Hollow census tracts. Twenty-three of the 25 tracts with the most male households also lie in Portland.

Still, about 40 percent of residents in same-sex households live elsewhere in the state.

"There is really exciting community work being done," Wheatley said, "and we are seeing significant advances in all parts of the state where everyday people are welcoming their gay and transgender neighbors fully into the community."

One example is the

Coquille Chief Ken Tanner said at the time that Native Americans are "sensitive to discrimination of any kind," and his tribe wanted "people to walk in the shoes of other people and learn to respect differences."

As society becomes more accepting, Wheatley said, the census counts will continue to increase.

"That in itself creates a more welcome environment," he said. "Because as people come out to their friends and neighbors, people will realize that we share similar values."

Still, Wheatley said the increasing openness reveals the darker side of even a progressive city such as Portland.

incidents.

And Wheatley said the struggle for equality continues. Coquille tribal members, so far, are the only gay Oregonians who can legally marry in the state. Basic Rights Oregon is leading a freedom-to-marry campaign and will decide this fall whether to seek a ballot measure that would allow gay marriage statewide.

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On Sept. 27, 2011, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that data-gathering errors had resulted in inflated numbers for same-sex households. The bureau revised Oregon's numbers to 11,773 same-sex couples in 2010. That would mark a 33 percent increase in same-sex Oregon households compared with 2000.

