Removal of sexual orientation question from Chilean Census criticized
Chile’s National Institute of Statistics (INE) in an unexpected move has decided to remove the question regarding sexual orientation from the questionnaire of this year’s Census that will take place between March and June.
The questionnaire, which consists of 50 questions, seeks to collect essential information to update demographic data that is fundamental for the formulation and continuation of public policies.
Nationality, disability, native language, Afro-descendance and gender identity are among the new topics to be included in the Census, but activists have criticized the INE’s decision to omit the question about sexual orientation. “We met with both the deputy technical director and the national director of INE to demand that this question be included,” Maria José Cumplido, executive director of Fundación Iguales, told the Washington Blade. “Unfortunately, the answer they gave us was that due to methodology and privacy protocol, this question could not be included in the Census because, according to their protocols, the question must be asked in a one-on-one interview and the head of household is interviewed for the Census and he or she answers for the family group.” The activist added “it is also very striking because there are questions about gender identity, for example, if you are trans or nonbinary.” “In the end, this protocol would not apply, which is very strange because both questions are sensitive,” said Cumplido.
Cumplido said it will not be possible to have useful statistics to help create public policies without the question on sexual orientation.
