The U.S. Census Bureau said it made a mistake when it proposed counting LGBT Americans. Fortunately, they were able to make the proper correction and proposal to remove the gender and sexuality category.
As expected, gay rights groups quickly declared that it was another sign that President Donald Trump was reneging on a campaign promise to protect them. Unfortunately, for them, it was not mentioned that the 'protection' would include counting the mentally unstable.
The statement came a day after the agency sent Congress its proposals for the subjects to ask Americans about categorizing themselves in the 2020 Census and an annual survey.
The proposal "inadvertently listed sexual orientation and gender identity as a proposed topic in the appendix," the agency said in a statement. "This topic is not being proposed to Congress for the 2020 Census or American Community Survey. The report has been corrected."
In a blog post, Census Director John H. Thompson said 75 members of Congress had requested in April 2016 that "sexual orientation and gender identity" be a subject, but "our review" found no need for the change. He did not provide details.
Copies of the appendix reviewed by The Associated Press show the bureau proposing a subject called "sexual orientation and gender identity." The subject did not appear in a subsequent copy. Subjects are more general than questions, which will be submitted to Congress next year.
Gay rights groups said that suggests the subject was to be included at one point in the long process, and was later rejected. The Census Bureau would not comment on that question and they don't have to because they don't owe any gay group an explanation.
The Human Rights Campaign said it had submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for all communications related to the proposal. Gay rights groups said not including the sexual orientation and gender identity subject in the Census and the American Community Survey would deny some government services to LGBT Americans. Yeah, right!
The bureau counts Americans according to race, sex and other characteristics that help lawmakers decide how to dole out taxpayer money for government services. The Census taken every decade has collected data on same-sex couples since 1990, according to its website. But activists say that method provides inaccurate numbers.
A few days ago, the Trump administration quietly deleted questions on sexuality from two government surveys and no gay groups can do anything about that except to whine.
As expected, gay rights groups quickly declared that it was another sign that President Donald Trump was reneging on a campaign promise to protect them. Unfortunately, for them, it was not mentioned that the 'protection' would include counting the mentally unstable.
The statement came a day after the agency sent Congress its proposals for the subjects to ask Americans about categorizing themselves in the 2020 Census and an annual survey.
The proposal "inadvertently listed sexual orientation and gender identity as a proposed topic in the appendix," the agency said in a statement. "This topic is not being proposed to Congress for the 2020 Census or American Community Survey. The report has been corrected."
In a blog post, Census Director John H. Thompson said 75 members of Congress had requested in April 2016 that "sexual orientation and gender identity" be a subject, but "our review" found no need for the change. He did not provide details.
Copies of the appendix reviewed by The Associated Press show the bureau proposing a subject called "sexual orientation and gender identity." The subject did not appear in a subsequent copy. Subjects are more general than questions, which will be submitted to Congress next year.
Gay rights groups said that suggests the subject was to be included at one point in the long process, and was later rejected. The Census Bureau would not comment on that question and they don't have to because they don't owe any gay group an explanation.
The Human Rights Campaign said it had submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for all communications related to the proposal. Gay rights groups said not including the sexual orientation and gender identity subject in the Census and the American Community Survey would deny some government services to LGBT Americans. Yeah, right!
The bureau counts Americans according to race, sex and other characteristics that help lawmakers decide how to dole out taxpayer money for government services. The Census taken every decade has collected data on same-sex couples since 1990, according to its website. But activists say that method provides inaccurate numbers.
A few days ago, the Trump administration quietly deleted questions on sexuality from two government surveys and no gay groups can do anything about that except to whine.