I got my 2010 Census today

[spiceman1957]

There is a space (Line #2) where they asked if a person lives in your household, what relationship is this person to you. I don't have a problem with checking unmarried partner, but I don't see how this will benefit the GLBT community as I live in a small town. Also, does this information get into anyone hands? Any comments?
John

 

[lordkenmore]

The Census people say that the information is confidential. And, historically, the data is kept that way for a long, long time.

But...what is troubling is that there is a possibility of the info being used against a person. I enclose a link to an article talking about times when the confidential info is released early. Sometimes, this may be justified for national security. But there is also a risk that it could be used to harm groups that aren't a problem for national security, but are hated for no reason like happened in Nazi Germany.

If I were in the position of many people here who are gay, and living with a partner, I think I'd be a little worried. Maybe even paranoid. IF the far out conservatives win control on the US government AND they decide to get rid of gays (as has been suggested here) THEN they might create an act "for national security" to study census records so they can figure out who to come after.

Paranoid? Probably. But after what I've seen happen in US government since the 90s, I'm not sure I'd consider any paranoid idea "impossible" anymore.

The link is to one article. A Google search will turn up more like it.

Pro Team Sports: Are Politics and Corruption Winning?: Events – Independent Institute

Americans love pro baseball, football, basketball and hockey, but has their passion allowed them to be squeezed in a vice grip? Sports stadiums for

www.independent.org

 

[hunter]

I still believe...

...gay folks are in far more threat if the far left gains control.

Sorry I couldn't resist but to say it

Of course the wacky left and the wacky right are not that far different...

Hunter

 

[austinado16]

The government "coming after gays"??????

C'mon man, unless you guys are sitting on an a (dare I say it) butt load of crud oil, I really don't think anyone give's a damn.

Although the sensus did seem to put a lot of effort into finding out if I was hispanic, wanted to be hispanic, was married to a hispanic, had hispanic kids, should be hispanic, knew anyone hispanic, or was hispanically related to other hispanic nationalities.

I found the whole thing sort of humorous and very scewed......"We need your phone number in case we have a question about one of your answers." BS, like they're going to call me. Who are they kidding. The government is going to use the census hunt down gays. That's why I wrote on mine in big black letters..."I'M not the gay or the hispanic."

 

[frigilux]

I was surprised how short the census was! Mine had no questions about being gay, but did have several about being Hispanic. And one question asked if you were paying a mortgage or fully owned the house you live in. And that's it! It took about 90 seconds to complete.

The pamphlet is several pages long, but each page is a repeat of the first page, to be filled out only if you have more than one person living in your house.

 

[tomturbomatic]

I don't think they would need to use the Census to find Gays and Lesbians. If they wanted to find who was, there are the membership lists and IP addresses and neighbors who would sing like canaries about any aspect of anyone's life, just like they did in Germany and the Eastern Bloc countries and here in the United States of America. In the early 50s, dozens of homosexuals were fired from a federal agency in one day based on what investigators had found out. Once a demagogue stands up and starts calling people a threat to the nation's security, morals, children, etc., it takes more fiber than most elected officials possess to face down the SOB and demand proof because they will be attacked with the same charges by the demagogue and his or her minions. That is why engaging in hate speech is as dangerous as burning trash outdoors on a windy day during a drought in brushland next to a forest.

 

[austinado16]

Okay, seriously....

.....what's with all the paranoia about being hunted down because "you're" not a breeder?

If anyone wanted to know where to find "you" they could just wait for the annual GLBT parade, or hit the local spa or club scene. Nothing "you're" doing is top secret.

No offense, but it's probably not in the best form to compare anything to what happened to Jews before and during WWII.

 

[iheartmaytag]

I can tell you this

As a former third party debt collector. I would have given my right dangly part to have gotten my hands on current Census information.

The comparison I read was not so much between what happened in Germany to the Jews but more what happened to people of Japanese decent here in this country.

You never know what Homeland Security may deem as reasonable to pursue. Maybe they want to crack down on illegal aliens. Maybe they want to hunt down Mulsums in America.

The Census is and should remain as only a tool to count the residents and properly distribute representation and benefits.

 

[sudsman]

.....what's with all the paranoia about being hunted dow

You plainly have not had brick thrown thru your windows. Been called all the "gay" names. or had your cars windows smashed tires slashed or been fired from jobs as so many of us have over the years. And for what is is worth the Hate of Gays up until about 12 0r 15 years ago WAS VERY much like the hate of the JEWS. After a lot the pure HATE I have been thur over they years HOW DARE YOUR PREACH ABOUT PARANOIA!

 

[sudsman]

you're" not a breeder?

I relate that term also as they same as the use of the "N" word.

 

[jeffg]

If you go to city-data.com, each city has a separate statistic for "Percentage of households with unmarried partners". There's also a percentage for "Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households)"

It's up to you whether you want to go on record with this census info. Only aggregate data is public for the first 75 years, but some future relative may get a kick out of knowing his great-great-great-uncle was probably gay. Back in the dark ages, when people actually gave a shit about these private details and gay people couldn't even marry each other.

 

[luxflairguy]

Did any of you find it odd that the census wants our names AND phone number? To me it's "Big Brother" wanting to cross-check lists and find who's naughty or nice. I sent mine back with US Citizen as a name and no phone number. My 2c.

 

[joelippard]

I decided

That I'd throw mine in the trash. My business is none of their business!

 

[jeffg]

Greg, you'll likely get a visit or three from them. Not filling out the form is a max $100 fine, but giving false answers is a max $500 fine. Next time leave those fields blank.

Or to avoid problems, simply give your name and write NONE for phone number.

 

[peterh770]

"I don't see how this will benefit the GLBT communit

It's not meant to benefit or harm anyone, except the clowns in Washington. Here comes the district reapportions to help keep them in office.

 

[alr2903]

I too checked an unmarried partner, living here. Sudsman, you forgot all the fun stuff, like your mailbox bashed, or your driveway piled full of every Christmas tree on the block. alr2903

 

[sudsman]

alr2903 (The South)

Oh, that the easy to deal with stuff..That we became almost accustomed to.But the other stuff like Spray paint on your car "here come a queer" or "a queer lives here" spray paint on the front door.just weekly occurances.

 

[spiceman1957]

I have not mailed my census

in yet. After reading these posts, I think I will include my partner as a roommate. As stated, I live in a small town about a mile from the big city limits, so I don't think it matter one way or the other what I put down. It's not like there is going to sidewalks, bus service, etc. in my area. It would be nice if every GLBT could come together in numbers. But I guess we are not quite ready for this as yet. It's very said that we can't live with whom we want too, and where we want to in America without suffering repercussions. And another thing, I'm certainly will not include my phone number. My name and address is enough!
John

 

[tomturbomatic]

The Secretary of Commerce was on the Daily Show this week. He said that Census info was even protected from the Patriot Act. He also said that if they do not receive a reply to each form sent out, they will send out Census takers to obtain your answers. If you are interested in saving the government money and reducing the deficit, mailing it back would be a good first step. The first form was sent out during Washington's Presidency. Two questions are missing from this form that were included in that one: Are you the head of the household? How many slaves do you own?

Does anyone remember the famous 1960 long form with page after page of questions? My brother and I had great fun with the question wanting to know if the dwelling had a flush toilet. We never outgrew potty humor. Our parents let us read the questions to them and mark the answers.