In May of 2006, the Family Equality Council partnered with the University of Pennsylvania's LGBT Center for our first ever Research Symposium! Real facts about our families were shared from credible academics who convened from all over the world. We have compiled all of the research taken from the academic symposium and boiled it down to make summaries of each study. The data is now accessible and easily understandable. Feel free to search through the research to find support in specific arguments, tidbits about your specific family type, or just pure fun!

To use this research database, use the search box below.

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Williams Institute Small Research Grants:
Request for Proposals 


The Williams Institute’s Small Research Grants program is designed to encourage new empirical research focused on the LGBT population.  Applicants from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds, including social sciences like economics, sociology, demography, social psychology, law, and public policy are encouraged to apply.  This initiative is designed to promote two important goals:

  • Fostering sound empirical analyses focused on the LGBT population
  • Developing better understanding of the need for and impact of public policies that affect the LGBT population 

Proposals should address both goals.  Another important objective of this funding is to encourage new scholars to pursue research topics in this area.  As such, advanced-level graduate students are strongly encouraged to apply.  Similarly, more senior scholars interested in expanding their research agenda to include LGBT-related issues are welcome.

Examples of topics appropriate for funding include:

  • Demographics and socio-economic characteristics of the LGBT population, including same-sex couples, racial and ethnic minorities, the elderly, and youth;
  • Issues related to GLB families, with a particular interest in children raised by GLB parents;
  • Economic impacts of LGBT-related rights and legislation;
  • Use, impact, and evaluation of anti-discrimination statutes, hate crimes statutes, safe schools legislation, civil union, domestic partnership, and marriage legislation, domestic partnership benefits, and legal recognition of parenting rights for LGBT people or same-sex couples;
  • Size, demographics, and socio-economic characteristics of the Transgender population;
  • Voting patterns and behavior of LGBT population; and
  • Analysis of public opinion data regarding LGBT rights.

We anticipate funding five to six projects with a suggested total budget for individual projects in the range of $1,000 to $5,000.  Funds can provide both salary support and costs associated with acquiring and analyzing new or existing data sources.  Proposals that are part of larger research initiatives are also welcome.  We unfortunately cannot provide funding for indirect costs or overhead.  Requests for travel funding should be limited to travel that is needed to carry out the research project.

The full application should include:

1.          Research proposal, including a separate 200 word description of the project written for a nonacademic audience.

2.          A budget and narrative explaining all items.

3.          A brief description of any human subject institutional review board (IRB) procedures that may be necessary.

4.          Curriculum vitae for all personnel involved in the project.

The research proposal component should not exceed three pages, single spaced.  Margins should be 1 inch around with a font size no smaller than 12 point.  The research proposal should include the following sections: 

1.            RESEARCH GOALS:  Describe the specific research goals and objectives of the project and describe how your project will contribute to the stated goals of this initiative. 

2.            PROJECT DESCRIPTION:  Describe the project and include the following information:

a.                  Relevant scholarly literature that places the study in a broader research context;

b.                  Research design, including a description of data and methods;

c.                  A discussion of policy relevance; and

d.                  Expected research publications, etc., that will result from your project.  Note that the Williams Institute will require you to submit a summary of results for possible inclusion on our website upon completion of the project.

3.            APPLICANT QUALIFICATIONS:  Describe the qualifications of the applicant(s) relevant to this research project

Budgets should outline the amount requested and the basis for all cost estimates.  The budget should reflect resources necessary to complete the proposed project in a timely way.  Please list other funding applications and sources that could support the project if it is part of a larger initiative.  If the overall project budget is greater than the request to the Williams Institute , please describe any other sources of funding. 

Be sure to indicate if the project involves using human subjects, and if so, which IRB process will be used.  All projects using human subjects must be approved by an appropriate IRB body.  If human subjects approval is necessary, funds will not be released until approval is obtained.

All proposals must be received by May 1, 2008 and awards will be announced by May 20, 2008.  Projects should be completed by June 30, 2009.  Funded researchers will need to provide a report by that date, including a 500 word summary of the project and its findings written for a general audience.

PLEASE SEND YOUR PROPOSAL TO

       The Williams Institute

       UCLA School of Law

       Box 951476

       Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1476

If you have questions, please contact Gary J. Gates: gates@law.ucla.edu.

This information can also be found on our website.