Census 2010 and GLBT Equality

Via Outfront Minnesota.

Census forms will be hitting your mailboxes early next week. What is new and different about the census this year is that same-sex couples who are married will actually be counted as married couples. Knowing how many married couples and households headed by same-sex couples is critical for OutFront Minnesota’s policy work at a local and state level. We will be able to use the numbers of same-sex couples to inform decision-makers about the make-up of our state. While the census will not ask people if they are GLBT, it is still critical for all Minnesotans to complete the census questions. The forms have ten questions that should take you under ten minutes to fill out. It is important for all Minnesotans to be counted because our state could lose representation in Congress if people do not get counted and the census determines how over 400 billion in federal funds is distributed to the states each year.

Filling out the census:

• Same-sex couples who are married or consider themselves spouses should identify the other person in the household as “husband or wife.” Same-sex couples who live together but do not consider themselves married can check the “unmarried partner” box.
• Check the box on the census form that most closely reflects your current gender identity. The census only provides male and female options to check, so you must choose one of these boxes.

If you want more information about the census and GLBT people, please visit Our Families Count.

Watch MN House Civil Justice Committee Hearing on Marriage Equality Live Online, Feb 22

Erica says: In case you can’t make it to the capitol to show support, you can watch the proceedings online.

Monday, Feb. 22

4:30 p.m. – (live) House Civil Justice Committee
Agenda: HF893 (Kahn) Gender-neutral marriage laws provided, and the Marriage and Family Protection Act enacted; HF999 (Mullery) Civil union relationships provided, and civil union contracts substituted for marriage for purposes of Minnesota law; HF1740 (Winkler) Marriages performed in other states recognized in Minnesota. (Informational hearing only. The committee will not vote on any bills.)

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The Minnesota House of Representatives provides live, unedited webcast television coverage of all floor sessions, as well as select committee hearings and press conferences. All programming is also archived.
Minnesota House television webcast schedules and links to the live webcasts can be found at: www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/schedule.asp