Australian Census embraces gender diversity
Image: Trans and gender diverse Australians will no longer be forced to select "male" or "female" on the Australian Census.
THE Australian Census will embrace the country鈥檚 gender diverse population for the very first time when it is collected next month.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has announced it will recognise citizens who don鈥檛 identify as either male or female, allowing them to write down a separate response, leaving the male and female boxes unmarked.
Victoria鈥檚 gender and sexuality commissioner Rowena Allen has been a strong advocate in this area, and believes this is a major milestone for Australia鈥檚 trans and gender diverse communities.
鈥淭his is a huge step for the trans, gender non-conforming, and intersex people of Australia to be seen and counted,鈥� Allen told the Star Observer.
鈥淚t has been a huge advocacy piece of work for many years by many people.
鈥淐hange is happening across Australia and the ABS has recognised that which is fantastic鈥� they are setting an incredible example for others.鈥�
While respondents will be able to write their own individual response on the paper form if they don鈥檛 wish to identify as male or female, responding online requires an extra step.
Respondents will have to call the Census Inquiry Service, request a login for the special online form and then select 鈥渙ther鈥� when completing the question.
Allen said despite the extra step, the move still sends a clear and positive message.
鈥淚n my line of work, I would call this a great day at the office,鈥� Allen said.
鈥淵es people have to go through an extra step, and some that is not perfect, but we can still be counted with very limited trouble and I know that is what people have wanted to see.
鈥淚鈥檒l be making that phone call and getting a new email so I encourage others who don鈥檛 identify as either M or F to join me.鈥�
This year鈥檚 Census marks 105 years since the first one in Australia.
More like CensusFail to me! Our local member for the Riverina Michael McCormack had gay sex plastered all over his own National Party webpage.
when it comes down to it, including genders isn’t helpful, it’s just another community to discriminate against. (Personally I don’t care what you are as long as you don’t punch me in the face)
I would rather write down “Human” as my gender as an act against sexism.
Once the government has your personal information in the census, a new world order will happen in 2017. Mark my words!
The new world order is already here in Australia. Wake up to yourself.
I am looking at the paper census left at my house and there are only male/female boxes. Apparently via rumours trans people can write in the margin ‘other’ but it says nothing on the census itself. This is the very definition of marginalized.
Sorry I can’t see how this is great,describing what sex you are doesn’t really address the bigger picture marriage equality until that is sorted these distractions are what the government wants.