Same-sex unions a challenge for Census

USA Today
July 5, 2009
The Census Bureau faces logistical challenges next year in classifying legally married same-sex couples as married. The agency has said that the 2010 Census will report the number of married same-sex couples for the first time, a decision that thrills gay-rights advocates. It may seem like a simple change, but adjusting how the Census tallies people is not a simple matter, requiring everything from redesigning computer programs to testing accuracy. Today, six states allow same-sex marriage. Last month, the Obama administration extended some job benefits to gay partners of federal workers and said it wants to ensure that same-sex couples "are accurately reflected in Census reports." [Link]