For the first time since the U.S. Census has been counted, same-sex couples will be included. The first census was taken in 1790 and per the United States Constitution, every 10 years marks a new count that dictates the amount of representatives in the House of Representatives. 2020 will be the 24th Census to take place and it looks like it will be the most fabulous to date!
Since 1990, ‘same-sex’ couples have merely been an estimate when ‘unmarried partners’ marked the corresponding boxes. It is also believed that many have made mistakes when filling out these surveys which does not given accurate numbers for same-sex or opposite-sex couples. The next census will give the government a stronger figure. The U.S. Census Bureau released a report late last week that shared the questions related to the upcoming census.
This still will not be a fully inclusive process for the LGBTQIA community, however. Those who are not in a marriage or partnership will not have a space to mark gender identity or sexual preference according to NPR.
Cecilia Chung, senior director of strategic projects for Transgender Law Center, shared with NPR about her hopes to see questions about sexual orientation and gender identity on a future census form as a transgender woman.
You know, these are all labels. But if we don't have the proper labels when we try to look at the picture, there will be a lot of missing pieces, like jigsaw puzzles.
Looks like there is still a long way to go in creating space for everyone, but 2020 will be a step in the right direction.
h/t: NPR, U.S. Census Bureau, Probably This
