Emerging Issue: Counting Same-Sex Couples in Census Data

Over the past few weeks, I've noticed a pattern of articles on various websites discussing the problems associated with the census and the agency's choice not to count same-sex couples. Based on the Bush administration's interpretation of the federal DOMA, it reasoned that the census couldn't count same-sex marriage or other partnerships. (The Obama administration is attempting to change this in time for the 2010 census.)

Not counting same-sex married (or unmarriec couples) exacerbates the lack of data surrounding the GLBT community. According to one article, there has been no regularly-conducted, reliable study asking people about sexual orientation or gender identity issues. Researchers studying GLBT issues, apparently, cobble together smaller studies in an attempt to get a national picture.

There are also mistakes in much of the census data regarding the sex of married and unmarried individuals. Merely because of people coding the census forms incorrectly, researchers' estimates of same-sex couples might be completely off. Facts such as Mississippi having the largest number of same-sex households with children and other oddities cannot be verified or challenged without the census specifically questioning and addressing this issue.

Here is just a brief set of links I've come across.
Is Your Marriage Invisible? Same-Sex Marriage and the 2010 Census
New Census Study Comparing Gay and Straight Married Couples
White House Looks to Include Same-Sex Unions in Census Count