No LGBT+ Representation in 2020 Census
LGBT+ rights and representation have come a long way in the last several years; the growth, however, is not linear. This is evident in the government’s recent decision to exclude LGBT+ representation in the 2020 census. Therefore, the census will not include questions related to sexual orientation and gender identity. Though a small detail in the U.S.’s chaotic environment, this decision should not be easily dismissed.
Photo by National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
The lack of inclusion for sexual orientation and gender identity in the U.S. Census is nothing new. In fact, the previously removed proposal was the first to include sexual orientation and gender identity. The decision to remove the census proposal is just one of the subtle ways the government is placing LGBT+ identities secondary to other, often more visible, identities. This decision has a powerful impact on the way we can gather information. LGBT+ representation in the 2020 Census would help the government to enforce federal laws and allocate aid and resources accordingly. Without the proper information to draw from, it will be much harder to support and empower LGBT+ communities. With the community in such a vulnerable state, this representation is needed now more than ever. Without proper representation, the feeling of erasure is inevitable; erasure is a stepping-stone into a variety of other oppressive agents. Everyone deserves to be heard, and everyone deserves equality. In the words of Laverne Cox, “We deserve to be counted.”
