This week’s guest is Dr. Gary Gates. Gary is co-author of The Gay and Lesbian Atlas and is widely acknowledged as the nation’s leading expert on the demography and geography of the gay and lesbian population. His doctoral dissertation included the first significant research exploring characteristics of same-sex couples using U.S. Census data. He has since published extensively on the demographic and economic traits of the lesbian and gay population. His work has been featured in many national and international media outlets, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, the Financial Times, and National Public Radio. Prior to completing his PhD from the H. John Heinz School of Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University, Gary facilitated the development of and co-authored a statewide HIV prevention plan for Pennsylvania. Gates’ background includes a Master of Divinity degree from St. Vincent Seminary and a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. Gary currently works as a Senior Research Fellow at The Williams Institute. His current research projects include a series of studies exploring the demographics and economic traits of Asian Pacific Islanders, Latino/as, and African-Americans in same-sex couples in California, a study of bi-national same-sex couples in the United States, and an NIH-funded research project comparing same-sex couples in the United States and Canada. *Since the time this interview was first recorded the states of Vermont, Maine and Iowa have legalized same sex marriage. For additional reference we’ve included links to some of the people, places and things discussed in this episode: Johnstown, Pennsylvania Stillers Saint Vincent Seminary Rolling Rock Latrobe, Pennsylvania Carnegie Mellon University The Urban Institute Great Society Brookings Institution Rand Institute National Institutes of Health (NIH) Zachary A. Kramer UALR William H. Bowen School of Law Kim Pearson Dean Spade Transgender Transsexual The End of “Gay Affluence” Phil Donahue Alfred Kinsey Kinsey Starring Liam Neeson Kinsey Reports Kinsey Scale Gay by Choice? Answers To Questions About Sexual Orientation & Homosexuality Mainstreaming Gay Marriage 2000 Census Information on Gay and Lesbian Couples LGB Poverty Report Gay Marketing LGBT Healthcare Log Cabin Republicans Will and Grace Brokeback Mountain Gay Marriage Employment Non-Discrimination Act Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Ottumwa, Iowa Radar O’Reilly Matthew Shepard Domestic Partner Initiative California Proposition 8 Prop 8 and The Black Vote Gavin Newsom The Battle Over Same Sex Marriage California Ballot Proposition Obama and Prop 8 No on 8 Yes on 8 Coverage of Prop 8 Economic Impact of Gay Marriage Gay Divorce For Gay Couples, Obstacles to Health Insurance Why Do Gay Men Live in San Francisco? City of West Hollywood (WeHo) Tantalizing Tarragon Perks Up Fish Fillets Pork and Apples Marry In Delicious Sauce Battlestar Galactica Skating with Celebrities Rick & Steve Sister Fidelma Mysteries by Peter Tremayne Brother Cadfael The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs Amazon Kindle Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome

As an Indian citizen, aged 31, Ashwin is a combination of a professional, an executive, an academic and strongly believes in continuing learning. His career has taken him to consulting opportunities that have included industries such as Construction/Real Estate, Healthcare, Education, Business/Office Services, Oil & Gas, Information Technology Services, Hospitality in countries such as Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Guyana, India and the United States. He now works as a Manager in Canada Capital District Health Authority in Nova Scotia, the largest health services provider within the province of Nova Scotia. He has a dual responsibility within Health Information Services and the Mental Health Program to provide for and develop a culture of quality improvement based on evaluation of data, developing policies & procedures, recommending district-wide operational efficiencies and overall effective management of 5 distinct sites. His formal career has included exposures in Academics, Legislation, Municipal Operations, Healthcare, wherein he has been instrumental in developing, governing legislation & policies in conjunction with senior leaders such as the Mayor, City Councilors, Provincial heads of Ministery’s, etc. He continues his passion to teach and further learning in all its forms and continues to mentor & supervise graduate research in Management & Leadership, while teaching for graduate level programs at Dalhousie University. Ashwin has a Bachelors of Science degree with an Advanced Major in Computer Science & a Minor in Business. Through his quest for higher learning he has also acquired the prestigious Master of Business Administration from Purdue University, and from ESCP Europe.