LGBTQ Americans Won't Be Counted in 2020 U.S. Census After All

[Behind the Aegis]

LGBTQ advocacy groups are outraged after proposed questions regarding sexual orientation and gender identity were quickly removed Tuesday from a just-released draft of the 2020 U.S. Census.

The U.S. Census Bureau, which is part of the Department of Commerce, is required to issue a list of categories it plans to track three years before the survey is conducted. Tuesday's list showed categories ranging from race and gender to the type of plumbing in homes and the length of a person's daily commute to work. Each category is followed by a table showing the federal agencies that rely on the data to make decisions about law enforcement, health care, equal employment opportunities and more.

No previous U.S. Census has ever included LGBTQ Americans, which makes it challenging for federal agencies and researchers to accurately track the size, demographics and needs of the community. In addition, the more detailed American Community Survey also leaves out LGBTQ categories. Tuesday's initial release from the Census Bureau proposed including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people on both surveys.

Advocacy groups have been campaigning for years to include questions about sexual orientation and gender identity, and were briefly elated when the 2020 Census draft was released. But hopes were dashed when the proposed addition suddenly disappeared, and a statement was issued by the Census bureau that called the LGBTQ inclusion a mistake.

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[RainCaster]

1. Dang! One less box I can check off

Let's see. I'm :
Muslim
Immigrant
Illegal
On welfare
Mexican

[Oneironaut]

3. Im uncomfortable with the current administration having this data.

I know the census is supposed to be anonymous, but the government doesn’t always listen.

I may be paranoid, but I don’t trust Pence’s agenda.

[FreeState]

4. The problem is the census is used for grants etc

When you pull groups out of it they get less funding. There will be less funding for LGBT issues as a result.

[Igel]

9. Why?

There's no change in the status quo.

If there's no change in the quantity and quality of information that forms the basis of current grant funding, why should funding levels change based on the sudden and unforeseen non-change in the quantity and quality of information in 2-3 years?

[FakeNoose]

7. It's not anonymous - the data is sealed for 75 years

It will be available for future Americans, including our own families.
I don't trust Pence's agenda either, and this info could/should be considered an invasion of privacy.

[sarcasmo]

5. MAGA has always been about hate and racism. November 2018 is the last chance for this country.

#BlueWave

[uponit7771]

6. +1

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. The Community won't be wished away just by not counting it. It is visible & will stay that way, ...

... counted or not.

[dickthegrouch]

10. There's ways of giving the info anyway.

In both the 2000 and 2010 census, my partner and I were described as just that in the relationship column.

I fail to see how March 2018 is three years before the next Census. Why all the handwringing now? This should have come up a year ago.

[Behind the Aegis]

12. From the article

Advocacy groups have been campaigning for years to include questions about sexual orientation and gender identity

As for the callous description of "handwringing", well, it was included in an early draft, but when the newest draft was released, it had been removed; thus, the reason the article is relevant and explains why some people are rightfully disappointed and upset.

[JI7]

11. this is really scary

[Initech]

13. This horrible atrocity of an administration is the only mistake that was made here.

Hopefully it will be rectified in 2020 and we can vote them out.