CENSUS OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS BRUINS COUNT CENSUS 2020 INFORMATION THE COURSE:
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LGBTQ+ CENSUS GROUP

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About Us


We are a group of UCLA students aiming to increase participation of the census among the LGBTQ community and allies. There are various fears and myths that alienate members of the LGBTQ community from completing the form, and we believe that this was an opportunity to overcome these barriers. Being counted is a way to make sure that everyone's voice is recognized, and it's vital in ensuring that individuals are represented.


One main reason why the LGBTQ community is historically a hard-to-count population is due to the fact that the United States Census has never allowed gender expression for LGBTQ folks in the binary sex question. This lack of data makes it challenging to accurately track the needs of the community and discourages members of the LGBTQ community from responding since they do not feel the data will matter to them. As a historically marginalized and ostracized community, it is highly likely that the LGBTQ population does not feel like the Census adequately represents them since none of the questions permit gender identity expression.


The Census' objective is to obtain information affecting the distribution of public goods and services like healthcare, education, housing, food stamps, and others. The 2020 Census is going to be extra challenging in garnerin the participation of the LGBTQ community because news in March of 2017 revealed that the Census had removed a potential question about sexual orientation and gender identity. Many LGBTQ folks were outraged to have their gender identity omitted in the Census and engendered sentiments of erasure and further exclusion from representation by the Census.


Lastly, the LGBTQ community is hard to count because of the "sex" question only allows two answer options, male and female. This poses a major problem for people who do not identify with their SAB (sex assigned at birth). Non-binary and trans folks who do not identify with their SAB would understandably feel uncomfortable with answering a binary and limited sex question.


Our group primarily utilizes online strategies to encourage participation. We are using the popular online applications, TikTok and Instagram, to reach a wide range of people. Although we are limited to TikTok's audience (may not be specifically LGBTQ folks), we focus our messaging to target the LGBTQ community and its allies.