We read today, in newspapers of opposite political colors, that, on the one hand, gay couples will be "counted" in the next 2011 census, on the other, they will not.
And while "Il Manifesto" headlined today "Census, question on de facto couples missing," "Libero" says: "Istat spends millions to tell you if you're gay." "Avvenire," for its part, is delighted: "Thus, those who tried to exploit even a statistical survey will be left high and dry.".
Considering that Arcigay has met with ISTAT several times, its researchers and its managers, right on the next census, to find a suitable solution for counting cohabiting gay and straight families (also in light of current legislation, European requests and privacy legislation), we are clearing the field of any misunderstanding.
The census will tell the global number of heterosexual and gay couples cohabiting for emotional reasons. That is, those who will tick the box in the census, on page 16 of the questionnaire, "Living as a couple with the registered owner." The data that emerges will be crucial in the fight for full equality for all families, both straight and gay.
But let's get to the gays.
On page 3 of the census, the sex of the cohabitants is declared. Istat, by cross-referencing the data relating to the sex of the cohabitants (M and M or F and F) with the box "Cohabiting in a couple with the owner", will have the number of homosexual and lesbian families living together for emotional reasons. Istat will therefore treat same-sex families the same way as any other Italian family. And this is a great victory.
Evidently, non-cohabiting gay couples, singles, and those who, for their own reasons or because they are poorly informed, do not wish to declare themselves as cohabiting couples will be excluded from the census.
The Census will therefore not count the number of Italian gays, like no other census in the world, but it will finally offer a necessary and fundamental step in our fight for full equality for our families.
Precisely for this reason, together with the’Radical Association Certain Rights, Lenford Network and Gay.it, we launched the campaign “Make Your Love Count”, asking cohabiting gay and lesbian couples to tick that box.
Any other hypothesis or insinuation that claims gay couples won't be counted—and we've even read about it on questionable gay websites and heard it from members of the LGBT movement—plays the dangerous game of "Avvenire," which childishly seeks to turn a victory for all of us into a defeat. (Stefano Bolognini, Arcigay press office)
All the information on the census and gay couples: http://www.gay.it/faicontareiltuoamore/