By Kathleen Gilbert

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 19, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Obama administration has directed the Census Bureau to find a way to include homosexual “marriages,” partnerships, and unions in the 2010 census, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

“The administration continues to make progress on the president’s longstanding commitment to promoting equality for [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] Americans,” said White House spokesman Ben LaBolt.

While the census has in the past collected volunteered data on same-sex “marriages,” White House officials said that the Obama administration intends to abandon the previous interpretation of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as prohibiting the release of such data.

Among those pushing for the revamped census was Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL), who had urged the change to President Obama via letter on Tuesday. Lawmakers Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Steve Israel of (D-NY), and 51 others also wrote to White House Budget Director Peter Orszag last month with the same request.

The Journal reports that some statisticians and homosexual activists deemed previous census techniques for homosexual couples unacceptable: in 2000, the bureau recategorized same-sex “married” couples as unmarried partners, and in 1990, the bureau altered the gender information of one partner.

This is the second move by the Obama administration this week to express solidarity with the homosexual lobby. On Wednesday, the President signed a memorandum granting restricted benefits to the homosexual partners of federal employees.

Activists were dissatisfied that the directive did not extend to health or retirement benefits. Obama has assured critics questioning his commitment to the homosexual lobby that he intends to repeal DOMA through the legislative process.

To contact the U.S. Census bureau, click here.


See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

Obama to Give Benefits to Homosexual Partners of Federal Employees
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jun/09061704.html