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Census Bureau: Same sex marriages don't count
Diane Curtis and Ellen Leuchs live in a state that provides fair and equal marriage rights to all its citizens, regardless of whether the person they want to marry is of the same sex. But in the 2010 census, the federal government won't recognize Diane and Ellen's very legal and legitimate marriage.
Their children Romy and Jamie will be counted as having single parents. They won't be counted as a family.
The
Bureau followed the same procedure for the 2000 census, as a result of
specific language in the Defense Of Marriage Act, signed into law by
President Clinton in 1996. The law requires all federal agencies to
recognize only opposite-sex marriages for the purposes of administering
federal programs. The Census Bureau does not plan to change its
procedure even though gay and lesbian couples can now marry in
California and Massachusetts. Curtis was quoted in the Washington Post:
"It's like we've been Photoshopped out of the picture. How long is the federal government going to pretend we don't exist?"
This is just another example of how we need a new direction in this
country. We need progressive leaders who will stand up for fairness and
equality for all Americans and will recognize fairness and support it
wherever it is. Electing Democrats isn't enough. We need leaders who will go above and beyond to stand up for fairness.
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July 17, 2008 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
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