The U.S. Census Bureau has announced it will not recognize same-sex marriages in the 2010 census. The agency plans to edit census responses of legally married, same-sex couples in California and Massachusetts to appear as “unmarried partners.”
The bureau justifies its decision under the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which “instructs all federal agencies only to recognize opposite-sex marriages for the purposes of enacting any agency programs.” The bigoted legislation was passed in 1996 by overwhelming majorities in both the House and Senate and was signed into law by President Clinton.
Because the Census Bureau defines a “family” as two or more people related by birth, adoption or marriage, same-sex couples will not be recognized as families. Those with children will be considered single parents.
“It’s shameful… it really is something out of Orwell, “said Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for Gay and Lesbian Rights. (The Advocate, July 15)
