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Office of Communications Gwen Campbell Media, Community & Education Relations Tel. 318.673.5062 / Fax: 318.673.5087 gwen.campbell@shreveportla.gov | ||
P.A.C.E. (People Acting for Change and Equality), Northwest Louisiana’s leading advocacy organization for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, has become an official partner of the U.S. Census Bureau in order to help achieve a complete count of everyone residing in the United States in the 2010 Census. Conducted every 10 years, the census defines who we are as a nation and helps determine how more than $400 billion will be distributed per year to communities throughout the nation. | One of the shortest census forms in history, the 2010 Census form will be mailed or delivered to each household in March. Census takers will visit households that do not return their forms starting in May. The form asks just 10 questions, takes less than 10 minutes to complete and is completely confidential. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents’ answers with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. All Census Bureau employees take the oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both. | While the census does not ask about individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, the 2010 Census will be the first to report counts of both same-sex partners and same-sex spouses as they self-identify. Transgender individuals will be counted as the sex they identify as. | Nearly half of all Americans live where there is some form of legal recognition of same-sex couples. Regardless, however, of where they live, all same-sex couples can report their relationship as husband or wife and will be counted as married couples if they so report. If a couple considers themselves unmarried partners (rather than married) then they should make that selection. In general, people who identify as unmarried partners are in a close personal relationship but do not think of themselves as spouses. | For more information on the 2010 Census form as it relates to the LGBT community, please visit www.pacelouisiana.org | ### | Contact information | Adrienne Critcher | P.A.C.E. Communication Chair | 318-393-6556 | critcher@earthlink.net |
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