It’s Census Day! Make sure your family is counted.

Participating in the Census Helps our Families Receive Support
Listen to the COLAGE podcasts about the Census here!
The U.S. Census counts every resident in the United States, and is required by the Constitution to take place every 10 years.
The data collected by the census also help determine the number of seats your state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Any personal data you provide is protected under federal law.
LGBT & POC Families Must Be Counted in the 2010 Census!
The 2010 Census will help communities receive more than $400 billion in federal funds each year for things like:
* Hospitals
* Job training centers
* Schools
* Senior centers
* Bridges, tunnels and other-public works projects
* Emergency services
We must all do everything we can to make sure that our families are visible and counted.
According to Gary Gates, of the Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, “Census data gives a snapshot of LGBT communities and is a deciding factor in many of the public and private policies that impact the lives of LGBT individuals and their families.” …In addition to shaping government representation and services, data from the census has been used to estimate the impact of bans against LGBT adoption, to give light to the number of LGBT people living in poverty, and to make the case for marriage equality.”
Although the Census doesn’t ask questions about sexual orientation or gender identity, this is the first time ever the Census will count both same-sex spouses and same-sex unmarried partners.
Some government statistics classify households by race and ethnicity so households headed by inter-racial couples should note that this is determined using the race/ethnicity of Person 1, the person who fills out the Census form for the household.
What: Answer the 10 questions and mail back the US Census Form
When: April 1, 2010 is US Census Day
How: In the month of March 2010, Census forms will be delivered to every residence in the United States and Puerto Rico. When you receive yours, just answer the 10 short questions and then mail the form back in the postage-paid envelope provided. If you don’t mail the form back, you may receive a visit from a census taker, who will ask you the questions from the form .
NOTE: The majority of the country will receive English-only materials. Households in areas with high concentrations of Spanish-speaking residents may receive a bilingual (English/Spanish) form.
Starting, Thursday, February 25, 2010 the U.S. Census will set up a phone line where you can learn more about the 2010 Census and even take the survey over the phone. Call 866-872-6868 or 866-783-2010 (hearing impaired)
The phone line is available in six languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Russian and to people living in migrant farm camps and households that may have a disability or difficulty reading the questions.
Additional Resources:
* The U.S. Census 2010
* Our Families Count
* Queer the Census!