James Campbell: Asking about sexuality in census a “truly terrible idea”

Whether it’s Gaza, renters or gay rights, these days when it comes to dealing with the Green threat in his own backyard, Anthony Albanese doesn’t know if he’s Arthur or Martha.

They whined and they won.

Last Sunday Australians were reassured their government didn’t need to know which way we swing.

By Friday Albo was out on radio explaining that yeah, though answering will be optional, he kinda would like to know what fries our burger.

And all it took to bend the prime minister over was the prospect of the social horror of being uninvited from next year’s mardi gras.

Seriously, whether it’s Gaza, renters or gay rights, these days when it comes to dealing with the Green threat in his own backyard, the poor bloke doesn’t know if he’s Arthur or Martha.

It’s hard to believe it even needs saying that using the census to ask people who they want to go to bed with is a truly terrible idea.

For many reasons – both principled and practical – starting with fact that thanks to decades academic research we already know the answer.

Anthony Albanese taking part in the 42nd annual mardi gras parade in Sydney. (AAP Image/James Gourley)

Rates of same-sex attraction and gender diversity would have to be some of the most over-tilled soil in the social sciences.

The only thing we are going to learn from a census question about sexual preference is how people are prepared to answer a census question about sexual preference.

If you think that’s unreasonable, ask yourself what will happen if the census finds 99.9999 per cent of Australians identify as straight.

In that eventuality, do you think the Rodney Croomes of this world will accept this as the final word on the matter?

Or do you think the result will be put down to lingering anti-gay prejudice in the community which inhibited people from telling the truth – anti-gay prejudice which must be tackled immediately with a giant injection of taxpayer money?

I think we know the answer don’t we?

In other words, we are to be asked a question which is going to cause a bunch of people to lie and which even if it were answered honestly will not tell us anything we don’t already know.

The point to understand though, is that for the LGBTQI+ activist class this isn’t about getting useful information, it’s about affirming the fact that sexual preference and orientation should henceforth be a permanent marker of identity.

Which explains why it’s part of the official policy of the Australian Labor Party that the ABS be forced ask this question.

Anthony Albanese marches during the 2016 mardi gras. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

According to Anna Brown of Equality Australia leaving out the question would mean her communities “will continue to feel invisible and demeaned”.

As an over-the-top reaction this was nothing to the NSW Independent state MP Alex Greenwich however who seemed to think the decision was an attempt to turn him straight.

“If by default we are counted as straight, that’s deeply hurtful to a part of the population who for many years have been forced into the closet.”

He also threatened that if the ABS didn’t want to know then gays wouldn’t show.

“If the PM and government continue with their decision, they can expect LGBTQ people and our families won’t participate in the process,” he thundered.

In the face of this backlash and with Greens circling on the issue, no wonder Albo caved.

Are the activists happy? Are they likely to forgive him? Is his spot on next year’s float secured?

Err, no.

Within hours Just. Equal Australia’s Croome was slamming the “backflip” on counting LGBTIQA+ people in the census because it “appears” to exclude transgender and intersex people: “We can’t support a question about sexual orientation without additional questions that allow trans and intersex people to be seen and the challenges they face acknowledged”

When will Albo learn there’s no pleasing these people?