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03/09/2009
Stand up and be counted (as legal strangers)
Legally committed for several years, or living together for only one day. For gay couples participating in the 2010 census, the difference will be six of one, half a dozen of the other:
Census takers will ask same-sex couples who live together to define themselves as "unmarried partners," as they did in 2000 before some states - currently only Connecticut and Massachusetts - allowed gay marriage.
The Report: Gay unions won't be in census [Press-Telegram]
So essentially, if you are legally married to your partner, you are being asked by the American government to lie. That is what all rational societies do, right?
No word of when gay people can expect their government to get over itself and stop this needless game of "hide the homos." Though hopefully it will be some time while we can still check the census form's "living" box (if they'll allow us to even do that).
**UPDATE, 6/29/09: While we were away: Census decides to sense us [G-A-Y]
Your thoughts
How do they plan to stop us? I can't do it because I'm single anyway, but everyone who's married should say so on the census. Let them know we're not going to hide anymore.
Posted by: RainbowPhoenix | Mar 9, 2009 12:51:59 PM
My husband and I were only even pre-engaged at the time of the 1970 census. No box for 'unmarried partners' then. So on my form (he didn't get one as he had been in Vietnam and not yet back for one year.) I used the 'Other' box.. and entered LOVER.
We got the biggest kick that for 10 years he was officially my lover...even though we had married 5 months after turning in form.
And in California it will be even more complicated, if Prop 8 is upheld.
This is insulting, and actually should have been brought up in the Prop H8 hearings, that all people who are not 'married' whether they are in a registered DP/CU or not are considered UNMARRIED. No there is no power in a simple word, HUH!
If you file your own form, you may use 'Married' I would think. How it will be counted is another question, and may need a challenge from Mass, Conn etc. Even for you New Yorkers where your marriage will be recognized.
Posted by: LOrion | Mar 9, 2009 12:52:22 PM
Andrew and I will ABSOLUTELY check married.
Posted by: G-A-Y | Mar 9, 2009 12:58:30 PM
I will have to point out that this pisses me off to no end, but the last census gave us at least an option.
Checking Married (I couldn't put that in quote marks) will be the truth for all of us who are, and, we can expect someone at our door to clarify.
We were accused of not filing in the last two, and ended up with people on our doorstep with clipboards. . .The last time . .I scanned the form & turned it into a PDF file before sending it. . .When they showed up on my doorstep I told the woman to come back in an hour & I'd have a copy for her. . .She came back after 10 minutes with a burly thug. . .they sat and waited on my front porch.
I gave her the copy/print of the original & she looked at me like I was an alien. .. but our census report was as correct and honest as can be.
It's difficult to say. We might have been counted as "Unmarried Partners" or singles. . .We might have been counted twice. . .I just know that the Census people were VERY unhappy and confused over the worthless "Partners" issue.
It's going to be even more confusing this time around, and I say. . .I'm good with that. . .until we have equality and my family does't exist in the census. . .at least some horrified woman and her thug husband will come to my door & see that I'm human.
Posted by: Jon | Mar 9, 2009 2:57:43 PM
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