Comments on: Census to Release Marriage Information http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/08/03/13833 News, analysis and fact-checking of anti-gay rhetoric Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:59:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Timothy Kincaid http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/08/03/13833/comment-page-1#comment-47424 Timothy Kincaid Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:14:39 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=13833#comment-47424 Ephilei, I'm not sure. My understanding is that they will release the number of those who tick the "married" box but are of the same sex. Ephilei,

I’m not sure. My understanding is that they will release the number of those who tick the “married” box but are of the same sex.

]]> By: chris colon http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/08/03/13833/comment-page-1#comment-47413 chris colon Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:40:01 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=13833#comment-47413 I don't understand why DOMA would prevent gay marriages from being counted. Illegal aliens are encouraged to participate in the census so that they can be counted. It is important to count everyone, and every category as well. Obviously, even though they are encouraged to participate, they probably don't in great numbers. However, the point is that they are counted, and the fact that it is illegal for them to be in the country does not prevent the government from counting them. Makes no sense to me at all! I WANT ALL LEGAL GAY MARRIAGES COUNTED IN THE NEXT CENSUS AND I WILL ENCOURAGE/DEMAND THIS FROM MY REPRESENTATIVES IN D.C.. This is the kind of information that will help us to measure our efforts in the work of legalizing gay marriage, and not having the information makes it impossible to make any conclusions about legally married gay couples' demographics and they all know that! Write to your representation in D.C. to force the counters to include legally married gay couples. I don’t understand why DOMA would prevent gay marriages from being counted. Illegal aliens are encouraged to participate in the census so that they can be counted. It is important to count everyone, and every category as well. Obviously, even though they are encouraged to participate, they probably don’t in great numbers. However, the point is that they are counted, and the fact that it is illegal for them to be in the country does not prevent the government from counting them. Makes no sense to me at all! I WANT ALL LEGAL GAY MARRIAGES COUNTED IN THE NEXT CENSUS AND I WILL ENCOURAGE/DEMAND THIS FROM MY REPRESENTATIVES IN D.C.. This is the kind of information that will help us to measure our efforts in the work of legalizing gay marriage, and not having the information makes it impossible to make any conclusions about legally married gay couples’ demographics and they all know that! Write to your representation in D.C. to force the counters to include legally married gay couples.

]]> By: Ephilei http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/08/03/13833/comment-page-1#comment-47399 Ephilei Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:06:26 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=13833#comment-47399 Is this only counting marriages that are legally recognized? If I have a same-sex marriage in Illinois recognized by friends and family but not Illinois, do I still get ignored? Is this only counting marriages that are legally recognized? If I have a same-sex marriage in Illinois recognized by friends and family but not Illinois, do I still get ignored?

]]> By: Jason D http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/08/03/13833/comment-page-1#comment-47189 Jason D Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:31:04 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=13833#comment-47189 "And maybe I’m being overly naive and optimistic, but there is a possibility that same-sex divorce rates are lower than they are for heterosexual couples. I can understand why some might consider that a threat." My guess is that the divorce rate will be lower for LGBT couples...at first. Along with younger couples who decided to tie the knot recently, there are also a number of couples who've been defacto "married" for 10, 20, 30, 40+ years already -- those couples are less likely to get <i>legally</i> married today and <i>legally</i> divorced tomorrow. But after we run out of older couples who have been waiting decades to get married, I think it will equalize. “And maybe I’m being overly naive and optimistic, but there is a possibility that same-sex divorce rates are lower than they are for heterosexual couples. I can understand why some might consider that a threat.”

My guess is that the divorce rate will be lower for LGBT couples…at first. Along with younger couples who decided to tie the knot recently, there are also a number of couples who’ve been defacto “married” for 10, 20, 30, 40+ years already — those couples are less likely to get legally married today and legally divorced tomorrow. But after we run out of older couples who have been waiting decades to get married, I think it will equalize.

]]> By: Christopher Waldrop http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/08/03/13833/comment-page-1#comment-47187 Christopher Waldrop Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:42:57 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=13833#comment-47187 JimInMa- Thanks for clarifying. It's so obvious I feel stupid for not realizing that suppressing the data would allow people who feel threatened by same-sex marriage to pretend it doesn't exist. And maybe I'm being overly naive and optimistic, but there is a possibility that same-sex divorce rates are lower than they are for heterosexual couples. I can understand why some might consider that a threat. JimInMa-
Thanks for clarifying. It’s so obvious I feel stupid for not realizing that suppressing the data would allow people who feel threatened by same-sex marriage to pretend it doesn’t exist.
And maybe I’m being overly naive and optimistic, but there is a possibility that same-sex divorce rates are lower than they are for heterosexual couples. I can understand why some might consider that a threat.

]]> By: JimInMa http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/08/03/13833/comment-page-1#comment-47144 JimInMa Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:26:20 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=13833#comment-47144 CW - Of course it's a threat - to those who want to keep believing that gay marriage either doesn't exist or cannot happen. Their entire way of life will be overturned if they find out that the statistics for gay marriage and divorce are about the same as for hetero marriage and divorce. They would have to start thinking of us as actual people rather than a few shouting political terrorist perverts. CW -
Of course it’s a threat – to those who want to keep believing that gay marriage either doesn’t exist or cannot happen.
Their entire way of life will be overturned if they find out that the statistics for gay marriage and divorce are about the same as for hetero marriage and divorce. They would have to start thinking of us as actual people rather than a few shouting political terrorist perverts.

]]> By: Christopher Waldrop http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/08/03/13833/comment-page-1#comment-47132 Christopher Waldrop Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:11:01 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=13833#comment-47132 Like Burr I wonder why DOMA applies to the census, and as I read this I was scratching my head and wondering what the Bush administration's justification was for prohibiting the release of the information. Oh, I know Bush didn't think the public needed to know <i>anything</i>, but was there really a concern that releasing information about the number of same-sex couples in the US posed a threat? Like Burr I wonder why DOMA applies to the census, and as I read this I was scratching my head and wondering what the Bush administration’s justification was for prohibiting the release of the information. Oh, I know Bush didn’t think the public needed to know anything, but was there really a concern that releasing information about the number of same-sex couples in the US posed a threat?

]]> By: Burr http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/08/03/13833/comment-page-1#comment-47108 Burr Mon, 03 Aug 2009 23:30:40 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=13833#comment-47108 I know there's been studies that have attempted to estimate same sex couples based on the census before, so it's well-trodden territory. I'm having trouble understanding how DOMA applies to the census at all and why they have to do this idiotic tap dance. It's just data, not policy. I know there’s been studies that have attempted to estimate same sex couples based on the census before, so it’s well-trodden territory.

I’m having trouble understanding how DOMA applies to the census at all and why they have to do this idiotic tap dance. It’s just data, not policy.

]]> By: Thomas Kraemer http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/08/03/13833/comment-page-1#comment-47106 Thomas Kraemer Mon, 03 Aug 2009 23:06:33 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=13833#comment-47106 The Census has always made "raw data" available to researchers, even back in the days of magnetic data tape reels. The problem with the Census Bureau’s "raw data" is there are VERY FEW people with access to the highly sophisticated computer algorithms required to accurately extract even simple information, such as the number of same-sex married couples by state. Hopefully, some gay census experts will do this work pro bono. The Census has always made “raw data” available to researchers, even back in the days of magnetic data tape reels. The problem with the Census Bureau’s “raw data” is there are VERY FEW people with access to the highly sophisticated computer algorithms required to accurately extract even simple information, such as the number of same-sex married couples by state. Hopefully, some gay census experts will do this work pro bono.

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