This story comes from the Denver Post. Basically, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is handing out the sticker above (click the pic for a larger image), via the website QueerTheCensus.org, that can be attached to the back of the census form envelope. From the website:
We know it’s a little clichéd – but here’s what we want to tell the census: We’re here. We’re queer. And we want you to ask us about it.
It’s crazy – the U.S. Census Bureau wants an accurate count of everyone in the country – but there’s no question in the survey that asks if you are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
You read that right: LGBT people are basically invisible in the survey that is supposed to reflect the diversity of America’s population – and that’s a big problem.
The data collected impacts issues critical to every American – like our health care, our economic stability, and even our safety. And when LGBT people aren’t counted, then we also don’t count when it comes to services, resources … you name it.
It’s past time to Queer the Census! Sign the petition at right to demand that the census ask the question and count everyone!
Don’t get me wrong, I see the reasoning behind this, but my beef is that it encourages bigger government. The Constitution says the people are to be counted. That’s it. This isn’t suppose to be an information-gathering exercise to determine government services; this is just to know how many people live here. What do age, gender, race, religion, income, sexual orientation, etc., have to do with that?
