It has been nine (09) months since Our Circle’s Managing Director, Derricia Castillo-Salazar’s, first official interaction with the National Census Advisory Committee. The objective was to address concerns about the LGBT community and recommendations based on the continued invisibility of the LGBT population in Belize and the legal non-existence of their families.
Our Circle, founded in 2013, is the leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organization addressing family inequality for diverse families in Belize. For the past six (06) years, Our Circle has been advocating that not all families in Belize are equal under Belizean law.
Majority of the government-sponsored programs treat LGBT families different from the hetero-normal counterparts. Due to the narrow definitions of who constitutes a “family” in Belize, many of the more than 100 children living with gay or transgender families do not have the same access to the economic safeguards afforded to other children in Belize today.
In the past few years, local research conducted by the Our Circle team shows that Census 2020 marks a pivotal point and offers tremendous potential towards the visibility and inclusion of the LGBT community and their families. With the slogan of Census 2020 being “Count Me In” it’s evident that being counted really matters.
Through all the campaigns and the work being done by the Census 2020 Team, it establishes that the Census plays a key role in providing government, private sector and the general population with information about the composition of the Belizean population. This undoubtedly means that the goal is to have all populations within Belize represented. As such, it is vital that the LGBT population and their families be accurately represented in the Census data. This requires that the Census survey is formulated to accurately depict and include all of the Belizean populations, including us - the LGBT community.
The Demographic Portrait of LGBT Families in Belize established a baseline of information on the existence of LGBT Families in Belize and their pressing issues. This initiative further led to the education of the community about the need to be reflected in national data and how Census 2020 would provide the data to minimize the disparities which exist.
Our submission in January of this year to the National Census Advisory Board focused on several issues. The design of the presented Census 2020 would not be able to capture accurate data for the purpose of planning and service provision to the LGBT community. The design of the survey would be missing out on the opportunity to capture much needed information surrounding diverse relationships and families as well as information about gender diversity in Belize.
With the looming reality of not being accurately represented, the LGBT community came together to formulate possible recommendations to have the Census 2020 truly capture accurate statistical data on all Belizean families. The recommendations submitted in order for Census 2020 to truly count us in, were simply to:
To date, we have not engaged in any discussion or consultation, other that the initial stakeholders meeting held in 2017, in regards to our community’s recommendations or rectification to any of our identified limitations.
The LGBT community and these diverse families we represent are seeking equality under the law. Being accurately represented in the Census is one aspect of our citizen obligation. The Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) is the autonomous body, obligated by the Statistical Institute of Belize Act, to collect, compile, extract, analyze and release official statistics relating to demographic, social, environmental, economic and general activities and conditions of Belize. In accordance with PartII 5(2)a of the Act, SIB is to provide on an impartial basis, quantitative and representative information about the situation in Belize.
The data gathered by Census 2020 is important as it creates an essential portrait of our country every 10 years. The census provides key population numbers to our policy makers to determine how funds are used. As an already vulnerable population, Census 2020 has a big impact on our political power and economic stability, which unfortunately, may never be secured until 2030 - if SIB deems us to be countable at that time.
Not being represented accurately in Census 2020 means not being documented as a part of the Belizean population. The implications of this act remain a reality today and may seemingly continue until Census 2030. LGBT persons and diverse families not being accurately represented in the Census 2020 means that there are children in the public childcare system that will remain deprived of loving stable homes, because the relationships of prospective parents aren’t recognized. Even more disheartening, the children who are born into these diverse families will get inequitable treatment under government safety nets, because they are being classified as being raised in single parent/income homes.
For years, our team has been calling for the state to expand its research on diverse families as a way to identify the gaps which exist in order to create legal, policy and cultural solutions. The opportunity is here; Census 2020 is upon us, and yet we are being forgotten, dare I say ignored. Our families exist, our families need to be counted, Census 2020 needs to accurately count us in!
Our Circle, founded in 2013, is the leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organization addressing family inequality for diverse families in Belize. For the past six (06) years, Our Circle has been advocating that not all families in Belize are equal under Belizean law.
Majority of the government-sponsored programs treat LGBT families different from the hetero-normal counterparts. Due to the narrow definitions of who constitutes a “family” in Belize, many of the more than 100 children living with gay or transgender families do not have the same access to the economic safeguards afforded to other children in Belize today.
In the past few years, local research conducted by the Our Circle team shows that Census 2020 marks a pivotal point and offers tremendous potential towards the visibility and inclusion of the LGBT community and their families. With the slogan of Census 2020 being “Count Me In” it’s evident that being counted really matters.
Through all the campaigns and the work being done by the Census 2020 Team, it establishes that the Census plays a key role in providing government, private sector and the general population with information about the composition of the Belizean population. This undoubtedly means that the goal is to have all populations within Belize represented. As such, it is vital that the LGBT population and their families be accurately represented in the Census data. This requires that the Census survey is formulated to accurately depict and include all of the Belizean populations, including us - the LGBT community.
The Demographic Portrait of LGBT Families in Belize established a baseline of information on the existence of LGBT Families in Belize and their pressing issues. This initiative further led to the education of the community about the need to be reflected in national data and how Census 2020 would provide the data to minimize the disparities which exist.
Our submission in January of this year to the National Census Advisory Board focused on several issues. The design of the presented Census 2020 would not be able to capture accurate data for the purpose of planning and service provision to the LGBT community. The design of the survey would be missing out on the opportunity to capture much needed information surrounding diverse relationships and families as well as information about gender diversity in Belize.
With the looming reality of not being accurately represented, the LGBT community came together to formulate possible recommendations to have the Census 2020 truly capture accurate statistical data on all Belizean families. The recommendations submitted in order for Census 2020 to truly count us in, were simply to:
- Eliminate questions that are founded on heterosexual relationships to the exclusion of same sex parented families and ensure that questions are inclusive of gender diversity.
- Formulate questions which are more inclusive of diverse families by being able to capture relationships and families where members live in different households.
- Consult key LGBT organizations prior to implementing procedures for the collection of data on gender diversity in the Census and other national surveys.
- Where additional procedures are necessary, take steps to communicate to those affected.
- SIB should consult further with peak bodies for trans and gender diverse people, and people with intersex variations.
To date, we have not engaged in any discussion or consultation, other that the initial stakeholders meeting held in 2017, in regards to our community’s recommendations or rectification to any of our identified limitations.
The LGBT community and these diverse families we represent are seeking equality under the law. Being accurately represented in the Census is one aspect of our citizen obligation. The Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) is the autonomous body, obligated by the Statistical Institute of Belize Act, to collect, compile, extract, analyze and release official statistics relating to demographic, social, environmental, economic and general activities and conditions of Belize. In accordance with PartII 5(2)a of the Act, SIB is to provide on an impartial basis, quantitative and representative information about the situation in Belize.
The data gathered by Census 2020 is important as it creates an essential portrait of our country every 10 years. The census provides key population numbers to our policy makers to determine how funds are used. As an already vulnerable population, Census 2020 has a big impact on our political power and economic stability, which unfortunately, may never be secured until 2030 - if SIB deems us to be countable at that time.
Not being represented accurately in Census 2020 means not being documented as a part of the Belizean population. The implications of this act remain a reality today and may seemingly continue until Census 2030. LGBT persons and diverse families not being accurately represented in the Census 2020 means that there are children in the public childcare system that will remain deprived of loving stable homes, because the relationships of prospective parents aren’t recognized. Even more disheartening, the children who are born into these diverse families will get inequitable treatment under government safety nets, because they are being classified as being raised in single parent/income homes.
For years, our team has been calling for the state to expand its research on diverse families as a way to identify the gaps which exist in order to create legal, policy and cultural solutions. The opportunity is here; Census 2020 is upon us, and yet we are being forgotten, dare I say ignored. Our families exist, our families need to be counted, Census 2020 needs to accurately count us in!