Question: Should Sexual Orientation be added to the census?

What logical purpose does it serve?

 

No. Next question.

 

In addition to collecting population data for the purposes of accurately apportioning congressional districts, the federal government uses census data, among other reasons, to determine: The allocation of federal funding for education programs in states and communities.

 

Not sure why it's applicable. What's on the census now?

 

well, it could help predict population growth, and where pioneering high income gay couples are going to improve real estate markets next

 

That's a valid point to a degree, although any middle income household can afford IVF or adoption.

 

Text version of the 2010 form: http://www.census.gov/2010census/text/text-form.php

 

Yes, because sometimes you just want to know.

 

You and your friend have interesting conversations. I don't think I've ever discussed the census with anyone.

 

What about gender?

I mean your REAL gender, not what parts you were born with.

 

Not unless those people ask it to be. Do they ask about religion?

 

fwiw: The census is anonymous. The most important thing for accuracy is to get as many ppl to answer as possible.

And here is the reason for asking about Race:

What is Person 1's race?

Asked since 1790. Race is key to implementing many federal laws and is needed to monitor compliance with the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. State governments use the data to determine congressional, state and local voting districts. Race data are also used to assess fairness of employment practices, to monitor racial disparities in characteristics such as health and education and to plan and obtain funds for public services.​

 

That plus sexuality makes things crazy complicated. Can't assume binary answers.

It's very much like racial categorizations.

 

Blacks, Asians and to a lesser extent Hispanics cannot conceal their race, gays can hide their sexual orientation and often do to optimize their opportunities in the face of both formal and informal discrimination that can never be effectively regulated by government.

 

I don't see any real reason for doing so or any real benefit that would come from it.

 

I'm somewhat nick-picking here, but I don't think "to optimize" is quite the right word. "Don't ask and don't tell" is not about helping optimize. It's is about ensuring equality. Opportunities shouldn't be taken away to begin with.

How about this: They will hide it to protect themselves from discrimination. Or, they will hide it to be treated equally.