WASHINGTON — Same-sex marriage is legal in two states, but not a single one will show up in the 2010 census.
The Census Bureau says the federal Defense of Marriage Act bars the agency from recognizing gay marriages in the nation’s 10-year count, even though the marriages are legal in Massachusetts and California.
The Census Bureau does not ask people about their sexual orientation, but it does ask about their relationships to the head of the household. Many gay couples are listed in census figures as unmarried, same-sex partners.
The agency’s director, Steven Murdock, said the bureau will strive to count same-sex couples in the 2010 census, just as it has in the past. But those people who say they are married will be reclassified as unmarried, same-sex partners.
Same-sex couples with no children will not be classified as families. Those with children who are related to the head of the household will be classified as families.
Gay-rights advocates complained that the Census Bureau is depriving them of a hard- fought legal recognition.
“To completely whitewash us out of existence is hurtful, discriminatory and shameful,” said Molly McKay of Marriage Equality USA, a group that advocates for same-sex marriage.
She said a count of same-sex married couples would help policymakers determine the costs of providing benefits.
