It looks like in the 2010 Census, the US government will attempt to accurately count gay and lesbian couples in an attempt to mute the rising anger with the Obama Administration after recent legislature targeted gay and lesbian civil rights:
“The president and the administration are committed to a fair and accurate count of all Americans,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said. “We’re in the midst of determining the best way to ensure that gay and lesbian couples are accurately counted.”
It is too late to change the language for the 2010 census survey, which does not include a specific box for same-sex marriages, civil unions or gay partnerships. That survey has already gone to Congress, with only boxes for “husband,” “wife” and “unmarried partner,” White House spokesman Ben LaBolt said.
So the administration is changing the census’ tabulation software to make needed changes in how the incoming data is analyzed and summarized. Formerly, if two people in one household checked “husband,” the data would be rejected. That will change, LaBolt said.
That means the count of same-sex couples won’t be comprehensive — but it will be better than before, he said. The Census Bureau has previously collected data on same-sex marriages, but not released it when it gives out all the other detailed demographic information from the decennial count, he said. Now it will be released.
Source: Salon.com
