Comments on: MP praises statistics body's decision to start counting gay population http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9773.html/ PinkNews.co.uk Gay News (UK and world) from Pink News - all the gay news for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community in the UK and beyond- thegaynews from Pink News Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:37:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Bev http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9773.html/comment-page-1/#comment-39268 Bev Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:23:30 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=9773#comment-39268 Well I'm going to go against the grain here and say it's a good thing that they ask to question, and it's a shmae the census didn't follow suit. I work for a local authority and one of the biggest problems I face is often convincing what is a rather conservative area that there are LGBT people that the council needs to support and address issues such as hate crime stats, often to the response that there is no 'proof' of LGBT people. There is homophobia out there and I completely understand the worries against homophobes tracking you down (which is quite unlikely) however the comes a point when we as communities need to stand up and say that we do exist, that we are large in numbers and that statutory bodies need to fulfill their obligations towards us. This I feel in part would be aided by sexual orientation becoming as common a question as age, occupation, ethnicity etc. It's only when it stops becoming such a 'secret' does it stop becoming a taboo and thus reduces homophobia/transphobia. On a lighter note, it's not like it's asking you your fave position in the bedroom ;-) Well I'm going to go against the grain here and say it's a good thing that they ask to question, and it's a shmae the census didn't follow suit. I work for a local authority and one of the biggest problems I face is often convincing what is a rather conservative area that there are LGBT people that the council needs to support and address issues such as hate crime stats, often to the response that there is no 'proof' of LGBT people. There is homophobia out there and I completely understand the worries against homophobes tracking you down (which is quite unlikely) however the comes a point when we as communities need to stand up and say that we do exist, that we are large in numbers and that statutory bodies need to fulfill their obligations towards us. This I feel in part would be aided by sexual orientation becoming as common a question as age, occupation, ethnicity etc. It's only when it stops becoming such a 'secret' does it stop becoming a taboo and thus reduces homophobia/transphobia.

On a lighter note, it's not like it's asking you your fave position in the bedroom ;-)

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]]> By: PCG from Portugal http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9773.html/comment-page-1/#comment-39249 PCG from Portugal Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:00:41 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=9773#comment-39249 Well, there is always a bad side of the story. Whoever is still living with the parents and still in the closed as well will surely not mark Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgender option on the Census form, since the forms are filled in by whole family in the household. However, it is a great idea, which I welcome. It will let us know how many we are. When the society and the Governments start knowning the figures, they will find out that we are many more than they ever thought and will surelly start respecting Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgenders more and more. Perhaps the Catholic Church will also change the way they face homessuality. Well, there is always a bad side of the story. Whoever is still living with the parents and still in the closed as well will surely not mark Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgender option on the Census form, since the forms are filled in by whole family in the household.

However, it is a great idea, which I welcome. It will let us know how many we are. When the society and the Governments start knowning the figures, they will find out that we are many more than they ever thought and will surelly start respecting Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgenders more and more. Perhaps the Catholic Church will also change the way they face homessuality.

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]]> By: Jane http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9773.html/comment-page-1/#comment-39247 Jane Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:24:40 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=9773#comment-39247 Well, count me out. I'm trans. Why can't people realise that the last thing most trans people want is to be identified as trans. I'm also lesbian but even for that I wouldn't want to be identified, my sexuality is a private matter, thank you. Well, count me out. I'm trans. Why can't people realise that the last thing most trans people want is to be identified as trans. I'm also lesbian but even for that I wouldn't want to be identified, my sexuality is a private matter, thank you.

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]]> By: Pat http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9773.html/comment-page-1/#comment-39235 Pat Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:45:32 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=9773#comment-39235 As the UK lurches precipitously towards becoming a fully-fledged police state, no one in their right mind should volunteer this information for what will essentially become a database of gay men's identities and addresses. This information will be held for indefinitely, and who's to say we won't be living in a world in the near future where every gay person fears a knock at the door in the middle of the night? Certainly, New Labour is doing its dambnest to get the infrastructure for an intrusive, controlling Orwellian state in place. As the UK lurches precipitously towards becoming a fully-fledged police state, no one in their right mind should volunteer this information for what will essentially become a database of gay men's identities and addresses. This information will be held for indefinitely, and who's to say we won't be living in a world in the near future where every gay person fears a knock at the door in the middle of the night? Certainly, New Labour is doing its dambnest to get the infrastructure for an intrusive, controlling Orwellian state in place.

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]]> By: Charlene http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9773.html/comment-page-1/#comment-39218 Charlene Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:20:26 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=9773#comment-39218 Call me paranoid but who will be able to access this info? I dont want religious homophobes (thankfully a minority but shout quite loud) knocking on my door offering to 'cure' me. Call me paranoid but who will be able to access this info? I dont want religious homophobes (thankfully a minority but shout quite loud) knocking on my door offering to 'cure' me.

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]]> By: Jen http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9773.html/comment-page-1/#comment-39165 Jen Sat, 06 Dec 2008 08:23:30 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=9773#comment-39165 Excellent news, even if the census is still not going to ask these things - in particular including bisexual and 'other' options. Excellent news, even if the census is still not going to ask these things – in particular including bisexual and 'other' options.

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]]> By: mike http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9773.html/comment-page-1/#comment-39155 mike Sat, 06 Dec 2008 01:10:42 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=9773#comment-39155 What are you insinuating? When Louis Theroux interviewed Anne's mother for a documentary a few years ago, her mother said that Anne <b>likes men more than women.</b> Later Anne was very annoyed that Louis had spoken to her mother behind her back. What are you insinuating? When Louis Theroux interviewed Anne's mother for a documentary a few years ago, her mother said that Anne likes men more than women. Later Anne was very annoyed that Louis had spoken to her mother behind her back.

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]]> By: Ivan http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9773.html/comment-page-1/#comment-39152 Ivan Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:44:33 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=9773#comment-39152 Why is this question so difficult for you to answer Anne? Why is this question so difficult for you to answer Anne?

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