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. Join our campaign to make sure that decision-makers hear a loud progressive voice this election year and beyond.
