Would you answer a census or survey honestly?

[AliceJaneInNewcastle]

For the crossdressers and other transgender people here:

1. If you had to fill out a census or survey that asked if you were a crossdresser, transsexual or cisgendered, would you answer truthfully (a) if your SO or others that you know could see it or (b) if you knew that nobody that knows you would see the answers?

2. How out are you?

For SOs:

3. Would you want your partner to answer a census or survey like this honestly?

[Slim Jim]

not only no, but hell no.

[Veronica Nowakowski]

I would. The Privacy Act means that any data which is personally identifying (if they even bother with that anymore) could not leave the Census Bureau. That means that they can't tell other parts of the government about it, unless there is something specifically in law. Those are extremely limited. If you tell the IRS you made $10,000 selling crack to developmentally challenged school children they'll tax you on it and you'll never hear about it again.

[ArleneRaquel]

I hope to list myself as a MtoF 24/7 CD. But I may chicken out.

[TommiTN]

Name, rank and serial number is all they'll get from me. The rest is none of their damned bidniz.

[Veronica Nowakowski]

I’m concerned about sharing my information with anyone.

Census information is protected by law, and everyone who works for the census must swear that they will never disclose any personal information. Penalties for any employee who might share that information are severe: up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. By law, the Census Bureau can’t share your information with anyone — including other federal agencies and law enforcement. Your information is safe.

http://2010.census.gov/2010census/about/whole.php

[Pepper2783]

No , first off. But I would think it was weird that the Gov would want to know about it.

[Stephanie Miller]

It would certainly depend on who is doing the survey. If it was our U.S. census asking, then yes I would. I think it is time we really have an honest to goodness idea of just how many of “us” are out there. If the numbers come back as what we think, then it would go a long way towards opening the eyes of our leaders to our “needs”. Would it be kept a secret? Heck, a certain someones birth certificate is still secret – so why worry about me? Oh yea, I’m a little guy and should play by the rules. :rolleyes:

But, if it was the neighborhood H.O.A. walking around taking the survey because they wanted to form some kind of opinion as to what would be the most popular neighborhood theme party …. Well then we have a different story here. I still have loved ones that don’t need the harassment, ridacule, sideways glances etc. because of me.

[Veronica Nowakowski]

Would it be kept a secret? Heck, a certain someones birth certificate is still secret – so why worry about me? Oh yea, I’m a little guy and should play by the rules. :rolleyes:


If that's a reference to Obama, his birth certificate was made available online. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/06/13/bobirthcertificate.jpg

I thought that was an ironic barb given that John McCain was born on a US base overseas the year prior to when that became recognized as being acceptable for natural born US citizens.

I'm not an Obama fan, but let's get it straight.

[NatalieBliss]

1) I agree with the "who's asking" caveat, though I am assuming the Census angle. If we ever want to gain acceptance of any substance they need to know we take up significant portions of the population. Regardless what precent that is anything is more powerful than a scattering of celebrities and Jerry Springer guests.

2) currently out to: my little sister, a guy friend and two female friends. However when I reach some arbitrary goals for myself I will probably be out to the world.

ALso: Much respect goes to Veronica for her critical thinking and balance of thought all presented in a classy manner!

[Nicole Brown]

I have absolutely no problem telling anyone who and what I am. My only concern is that if I tell the government, they may look for a way to put a tax on it...:devil:

[Stephanie Miller]

Veronica the only certificate that has been shown is a "Certificate of Live Birth" and not the original "Birth Certificate". There is a huge difference. I don't want to drag this thread off topic so I will P.M. you info on that and McCain. (Didn't say I was a McCain fan either)

[celeste26]

Funny you should ask because I answered an ad to work at the Census bureau and I will be dealing with issues like that if I am hired.

In none of the various census questionnaires do I recall any such questions but then I've never had to deal with the long form either.

[eileendover]

... My only concern is that if I tell the government, they may look for a way to put a tax on it...:devil:

Nicole, does this mean they might start taxing stiletto heels and hip pads? :eek:

[Stephenie S]

Hasn't anyone been through a census before?

The US Census Bureau has absolutely NO interest in whether or not you are a crossdresser.

"Are you a crossdresser?", is NOT on the questionnaire.

And the question of President Obama's birth has been hacked to death. Only the intellectually challenged obsess over this any longer. Get a life, for goodness sake.

Stephie

[boy2girl31]

The reason a census is conducted is to find out how many ppl are in each given area so that the services that are required by those ppl can be addressed. If they chose to ask about gender issues then it would most likely be used to decide if services are need for for ppl with gender issues. This being the case I believe that everyone should admit their situation.

That said I would most certainly tell them if they asked. Besides that I am a horible liar and alway feel guilty if I do lie so I could not lie to them.

[Amy Lynn3]

When I was in the Army they said if I were ever captured all I was required to give was my name, rank and serial number. I think that was good advise and that's all I'll give, unless they offer me a dozen pair of nylon Shadowline panties.

[Loni]

if the census paperwork shows up here is goes into the fire.
NO part of my life is info the goverment needs. they have my tax info, and know i am here...nufe said.

[Christinedreamer]

N,R and S/N nothing more. There is nothing in the Constitution that says I have to tell the gov anything.

Please tell me you all have not fallen for the census secrecy BS. There is NOTHING sacrosanct between any office of the Us gov and you.

Even every item you buy if you use a "discount card" is tracked. usually by the company selling you stuff but it is available to anyone.

The census bureau has your contact info so you get the form mailed to you. It also asks about the number of residents, nationalities, income, schooling etc. If you fail to send it back, they alert you. So the info IS trackable, EASILY.

I own my own electronics biz and 2x a year I get a mailer that offers me catalogued listings of all the information from anyone buying specific gear such a certain brand of laptop etc. This is sold to vendors to allow them to target potential custmers. How do you think you get mail from companies you have never dealt with?

Your only guarantee(?) of privacy is to stay private in all aspects.

The US Gov is no different.

[Midnight Skye]

You know... initially I was going to say heck yes! And then I realized I don't trust the governments documentation tactics well...

On the upside the company I work at has a private gay/lesbian/transgendered flag in our company profile and I have that checked! Though I am curious if any of my managers can see it. Not that it'd really surprise anyone... I'm eccentric.

[Phyliss]

Name, rank, service number, and date of birth. PERIOD.

Government ethics? isn't that an oxymoron , kinda like jumbo shrimp or military intelligence.

The most frightening words you'll ever hear, "Hello, we're from the government, we're here to help you." Run as fast as your heels will allow.

[Joanne f]

I almost put yes straight away but then i do not trust Governments so it would depend on who was asking .
And i know my wife would have no problem with me putting it on a survey if i so desired ( but i know you are not hearing it from her).

[gabimartini]

1a. No (because of family/others)
1b. Yes
2. Out to my SO only

[danielle swenson]

Here in the US,we have a "census" butt... FYI we also have a "constitution" in which it states, that the government is only
aloud to "enumerate you once every 10 years" know your rights!
check it out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsDhkPym01k

[karen68]

Yes if it were a government survey as others put it it would be covered by the privacy act

[JustWendy]

It would certainly depend on who is doing the survey. If it was our U.S. census asking, then yes I would. I think it is time we really have an honest to goodness idea of just how many of “us” are out there. If the numbers come back as what we think, then it would go a long way towards opening the eyes of our leaders to our “needs”.

I think there are so many more of us than any census or poll would reveal because there is a fear of revealing this information and how it could be used against us instead of to help us. I know this is not a census question, but if it were, I'd answer honestly, not because I trust the government to protect my private information, but because, at my age I don't care if someone misuses it. Their abuse of power would say more about them as a person than my wearing panties says about me.

Wendy

[Teri Jean]

I'm a transsexual female and that is what the answer would have to be.

Teri

[Nicole Brown]

Nicole, does this mean they might start taxing stiletto heels and hip pads? :eek:

Yes, along with adhesive finger nails, fake eyelashes, wigs and all heels over size 13 with 4" heels...:eek:

[Veronica Nowakowski]

Here in the US,we have a "census" butt... FYI we also have a "constitution" in which it states, that the government is only
aloud to "enumerate you once every 10 years" know your rights!
check it out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsDhkPym01k

Article I, Section 2:

"The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct."

They have to do it at least every 10 years, there is nothing which limits them from doing it more often besides the fact that Congress doesn't want to spend the money. The reason for the census is to ensure fair representation, that each Representative in the House represents about the same amount of people. Congressional Redistricting is done based on those results and it effects not only the number of people from a state, but also presidential electors as that is decided by the number of senators plus the number of representatives.

However, it is not mandatory. No one is going to come after you for refusing to participate. They also are asking you a lot less than what that guy says they will. The questions are available online:

The 2010 Census will actually be one of the shortest and simplest in U.S. history. It will ask just 10 basic questions including:

* Name
* Sex
* Age and date of birth
* Hispanic origin
* Race
* Household relationship
* If you own or rent your home

It requires less personal information than a typical credit card application. For example, the 2010 Census does NOT ask about bank account information, salary or income, citizenship or immigration status, and we never ask you for your Social Security number.

Other polls are given to a handful of people at other times, but they too are voluntary.

[wendy360]

I took the victoria secret survey online they went me and I put down I bought the close for myself. Is that now all over the web?
As for the US census I looked at the form there sending out and the basicly ask name, address, race, and who lives with you. nothing about how much I make or if I'm a C/Der.
I worry more about the information that retailer have on me than the gov.If you buy anything with a ATM card or a credit card they are tracking you. the credet reporting firms know more about you than the gov.
And what stops them from taking my picture off this site and run it through facial recognition software to find out who Wendy 360 really is.
Or just track me though my computer ID #

[SuzanneBender]

Wendy outstanding observation. By the way I use that line a lot with my wife when someone does something completly wrong or stupid. "Look at how that guy is treating his kids and you give me a hard time for wearing panties, look that lady didnt even stop for the old guy crossing the street and you think I am wrong for wearing panties, look at that guy who just free scaled the Eifel tower and you think I am crazy because I wear panties". Anywhooo that is off topic.

I fear the Government I always have. So did our forefathers. However, they put plenty of processes in place to prevent then from rounding us up and placing a Scarlet T on our chest. I think being counted is key to our finally gaining the rights and protections we deserve. 40,000+ of us have transistioned and are living in the US. How many of us are there that will never transistion but are some form of transgender? Some estimates say that transgender people are more prevelent than people with cleft palettes or MS. I will point out that who we are and what we are blessed with is not a disease. But when you put it in the context of the numbers it begins to paint a picture of a significant group of folks that can impact change.

I am writing in other on the gender box of my census form.

Ok someone help me down off this soapbox. I can't step down with these heels on. :hugs:

[AKAMichelle]

Some of the questions on this year's census worry me a lot. I don't know for sure if they are on the census questionaire since I haven't gotten mine yet.

How many refrigerators? Income?

Many of these questions cross the line with me, I won't be answering them if they appear on my form. Plus there are 2 different types this year. A short and a long form. The long form is the one with the most invasive questions.

You have to remember that anything you put on the census form will be available some time later in the future to the public. Ancestry.com uses census forms to help you find your family roots. So the question is: Do you want your kids or grandkids finding out about your crossdressing later in their lives. Will it change their perspective on their father?

I don't know how I would answer if they asked if we were transgendered. Hopefully it is not this year's census, so I won't have to think about it.

[Veronica Nowakowski]

Data miners definitely find out everything about you. In certain cases, I'm sure the government has more information (Einstein had a 26,000 page FBI file), but for your average Joe or Jane, the private sector keeps more information, and sometimes erroneously.

[Rachel Morley]

My answers would be:

1. I would answer that I was a crossdresser ... BUT .. only if I knew that nobody that knows me as my guy self (co-workers and parents) would be likely see my answer. i.e. the results would not be printed in the local paper or whatever.

2. I am not out to my co-workers or my parents. My wife, my step son, my wife's sister and her husband all know about me. Almost all of my "going out social time" is in girl mode and so my friends and non work acquaintances all know me as Rachel.

3. My wife would answer the same as me. She doesn't think it's "value-added" to tell my co-workers and parents, who incidentally, live 5000 miles away.

[TNRobin]

I've seen and read the census form on the .gov website and Veronica has it correct. I will NOT be giving them any information about my race, hispanic or otherwise, or whether I own or rent a home.

I worked for the government when I was in the army, Special Forces, and do not trust them one bit. I'm not a conspiracy nut, though I do enjoy reading them, but what they will get is ALL that they need to know about me which is: name, age, address, and date of birth, as well as how many are in my household, that's it. That's all that is needed in order for a proper census to be taken and districts to be apportioned in regards to Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. The rest of the questions will be marked out with a Sharpie and a note attached stating that this is none of their business. Of course some of it is in the public record of course, but if they want it they'll have to find it for themselves as it is not part of the census.

[mklinden2010]

The idea that the census bureau, the census workers, etc. will keep things confidential "because it's the law" is just too funny.

The government will hire anyone with a pulse from my community to go around and knock on doors. They're the same people, talking about the same people, that they were yesterday.

So, no. Not hardly... Until they build better people I won't be building better answers.

As for the data collected, by any means... There's very little that's collected that can't be culled and back-tracked right to your front door, by one means or another.

I prefer to be mostly "out" in my personal life... But, anyone who wants to keep some of their private life private would do better to forget about having one.

Ha-ha-ha.

Too funny.

Governments of the people, for the people, and by the people respecting individual privacy....

For goodness sake, they had to pass a FEDERAL law to dis-cour-age people from yakking. That doesn't mean they won't anyway.

Is there anyone reading this who drives faster than the speed limit - "sometimes"?

Governments, and rules, by the way, are subject to change.

But, the information in the files isn't....

"Got cha!"

[Veronica Nowakowski]

People do go to jail for that and certainly lose their jobs for it. If I give information I'm allowed to give to someone, but I have not yet established that they're allowed to, at minimum I get a warning the first time, 30 day suspension the second, and lose my job the third time. If a census worker says anything, it won't identify you. I have tons of stories about people, I don't even remember their names and if I say something about it, no one will be able to identify that person. If you mailed it in, they'd not even blink an eye if that were a question.

[mklinden2010]

>>I work for a different branch of the government and the privacy act is down my throat every day. People do go to jail for that and certainly lose their jobs for it.



And, this would repair the damage done to someone's life - how?

[Veronica Nowakowski]

>>I work for a different branch of the government and the privacy act is down my throat every day. People do go to jail for that and certainly lose their jobs for it.



And, this would repair the damage done to someone's life - how?

It wouldn't. It is, however, a very powerful deterrent. If I do it for personal gain I immediately lose my job. That also means looking up people's records. That's closely monitored. My point is that they're not going to go start blabbing about it all, not that you'll be compensated if they do.

I was trained by someone who worked for the IRS before coming over. They were telling me about how that person ratted someone out to the police and as a result lost their job. It's rare, and no one's going to risk their livelihood over a crossdresser.

[mklinden2010]

>>It's rare, and no one's going to risk their livelihood over a crossdresser.


It's not so rare that it doesn't happen. And, if it's your life that gets pushed over a cliff, it's an absolute certainty - for you.

And, what "livelihood" if you're a part-time, once-in-ten-years or once-or-twice-in-a-lifetime census worker from the same community?

Governments are power. Be careful of power, even small amounts of it, if it can hurt you. "If it can happen, it will happen."

A safer path to go down, is to rely upon your constitutional right to free speech and assembly.

Rather than be polled, so they can come get you at 3 a.m. and put you on a truck to the concentration camps... Speak your mind about your causes, support organizations (send money) that promote freedom, and count on EVERYONE noticing if you get picked out from the "citizen crowd" for "special" treatment.

Keeping secrets is not the best form of protection. Secrets can be found out and used in silence against you. Define yourself and let your fellow citizens decide if anyone is safe if no one is safe.

Odds are, most people will figure out:

"You can do your thing, and I'll do my thing.. We don't want big brother getting into our business after all..."

You want a good poll?

Say and do more to make people aware of each others rights to be left alone.

When they then poll their own feelings, they'll be more in favor of, "Live and let live."

[Veronica Nowakowski]

I would agree that we need to stand up for our rights, very much so. I don't think there's any threat of concentration camps at this time.

It happens, but I don't see them talking about something like that. I dont' think anyone would care about that enough to risk their jobs. Solving a murder, yeah, some people will care enough about that.

[katies27]

1. If the person from the census was standing in front of me and I was fully dressed, then it would be hard to deny it, otherwise NO.

2. Just out to SO who I told, and ex wives that found out. That is more than enough at the moment.

Katie

[celeste26]

Wow there is so much distrust of the government here in this little corner of the internet. can we spell paranoia?
Then again, I'm mostly out to everyone I know anyway so I have little to lose. Seems like a good reason for others to be out also.

"Freedom means there's nothing left to lose"

[Aubrey Green]

the last census I answered honestly, but there were questions, I felt were none of their business, and I didn't answer. So a couple months later, 2 girls showed up and my door, from the census. Asked me the questions, I didn't answer and I told them to write down, it is none of the gov. business.


This year will be weird. Under sex I will answer "not lately"

[Hope]

Wow there is so much distrust of the government here in this little corner of the internet. can we spell paranoia?

No kidding.

I am actually a little surprised by the responses here, given that when we were talking about the TSA "nude-o-vision" scanners a lot of the same folks who are here complaining that their privacy is being invaded by the census, whole heartedly endorsed the government's right and need to take nudie pictures of us in order to get on an airplane. Or conduct warrantless wiretaps. Or deny habeas corpus. Or...

Seriously folks, if you want to worry about your privacy (and you should) you should worry about the data that is being collected by credit reporting agencies, banks, and every corporation you have ever done business with, and many you haven't. They are collecting MUCH more interesting data, they have no requirement to keep it secure, and in fact they regularly sell it to others.

If census information were made public - you think the tabloids wouldn't be interested in Brittany Spears' census info? Bill Gate's info?

If the census form were to ask about my gender - I would be happy to tell them. Partially because I am not really afraid of how the data is going to be used, and partially because I would like to have more reliable statistics, and better representation.

[Frédérique]

1. If you had to fill out a census or survey that asked if you were a crossdresser, transsexual or cisgendered, would you answer truthfully (a) if your SO or others that you know could see it or (b) if you knew that nobody that knows you would see the answers?
2. How out are you?
For SOs:
3. Would you want your partner to answer a census or survey like this honestly?

1a. It all depends on who is asking the questions, and why. I would be very suspicious under any and all circumstances. If my family would be able to see my answers, I might say “yes,” in the long run, but my mind would be filled with drafting a few explanations, expecting the worst. Why feed the bonfire of fear, real or imagined?
1b. In that case I would be more “open,” but I would still be suspicious about motives. I am ultimately responsible for my own privacy, you know…
2. Not very. I’m out to myself, and that’s all that matters, but I’m not in a situation where my lifestyle has an effect on those around me. Also, I like being secretive…
3. Yes, I would, if I had a partner. :heehee: Honesty is the best policy, but I would respect another person’s right to privacy if this situation ever came up. I can relate to such feelings, and it’s all about feelings, isn’t it?

[mklinden2010]

>>Wow there is so much distrust of the government here in this little corner of the internet. can we spell paranoia?



It's not distrust of government.

It's confidence in human beings being flawed and fickle as they go along in life.

We attempt to govern ourselves - which would not be necessary if "we", meaning human beings, weren't the way we are...

There are rules, but they are "just" rules.

[Julie Gaum]

I took part in the 2000 census. Part of my area included an Indian reservation. Although more Indians (For good historical reasons) than Caucasian refused to answer any question there must have been another good 10% who refused: income, color of skin and other general subjects
they considered personal. I don't recall any questions on any form that asked more than checking off M or F; and yet I recently saw on a web site the number of cross dressers reported on the 2000 census --- curious.
The Constitution requested a census to determine males to fight in the Revolution but nothing was said about future
census other then what Congress then created.
As for privacy --- despite the rules --- forget it.
With that said the Census is a valuable asset --- support it
unless it asks uncomfortable questions.
Julie

[Veronica Nowakowski]

No kidding.

If the census form were to ask about my gender - I would be happy to tell them. Partially because I am not really afraid of how the data is going to be used, and partially because I would like to have more reliable statistics, and better representation.

If it asked me my gender, I'd be a smartass and answer female. I did that with the ACLU. The census properly asks sex.

[charlytuna]

If I knew that the information is going held in strict confidente I won't have a problem or my spouse but if it just a survery I may not be so honest bunnie feel the same

[boy2girl31]

I see that many ppl arevoicing their opinion about the government and it's ability to keep quiet but I have to say that a long as we as a group continue to hide who we are we will not be able to be counted for anything and we will never be accepted. So no matter how we feel about the government ( i don't really trust them either) we have to show that we are here we have a voice and we need to use it. :hugs:

[eileendover]

And in the end, we'll find out that all of our personal information, from government sources, credit card companies, and any company that gives you "points" for buying stuff, is ultimately owned by Google in its secret mountain fortress. :devil:

[Solarhawk]

It's amazing how paranoid we as a group are...


I’m concerned about sharing my information with anyone.

Census information is protected by law, and everyone who works for the census must swear that they will never disclose any personal information. Penalties for any employee who might share that information are severe: up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. By law, the Census Bureau can’t share your information with anyone — including other federal agencies and law enforcement. Your information is safe.

http://2010.census.gov/2010census/about/whole.php

I currently work for the Census Bureau, as a crew leader in the field, not just some clerk making phone calls. The privacy laws are taken VERY seriously, and the briefs I give to administrators of facilities with multiple residents at one location (group living quarters such as military barracks, hospital wards, assisted living, nursing homes etc) mention confidentiality THREE separate times. If any census worker releases any information, they are -immediately- fired, and the process starts for legal action against them. I can't even report if I find a meth lab at a location without this happening, the only things I can report are direct dangers to myself or another census worker going to the location to visit, like if the person at a location was threatening.


The idea that the census bureau, the census workers, etc. will keep things confidential "because it's the law" is just too funny.

The government will hire anyone with a pulse from my community to go around and knock on doors. They're the same people, talking about the same people, that they were yesterday.

So, no. Not hardly... Until they build better people I won't be building better answers.

As for the data collected, by any means... There's very little that's collected that can't be culled and back-tracked right to your front door, by one means or another.

I prefer to be mostly "out" in my personal life... But, anyone who wants to keep some of their private life private would do better to forget about having one.

Ha-ha-ha.

Too funny.

Governments of the people, for the people, and by the people respecting individual privacy....

For goodness sake, they had to pass a FEDERAL law to dis-cour-age people from yakking. That doesn't mean they won't anyway.

Is there anyone reading this who drives faster than the speed limit - "sometimes"?

Governments, and rules, by the way, are subject to change.

But, the information in the files isn't....

"Got cha!"

The people hired go through a background check and sign forms saying they won't disclose that information, so another deterrent is also the charges of perjury if you willfully disclose unauthorized information. You aren't even hired if the background check doesn't come back clean, and there is a LOT of competition for these census jobs. Census data is released to the public, yes... but after 72 years, as per United States Code, Title 13 (Sections 9, 141, 193, 214, and 221) and Title 44 (Section 2108). http://2010.census.gov/2010census/privacy/index.php Click there to read the laws.

As for the questions involved on the census itself, it's very short: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/how/interactive-form.php click there to view the form and questions involved. If you leave stuff blank, someone will call, then attempt to visit the residence. If the census is unable to contact you, they'll ask neighbors. Also not -everything- on the form is required. The form for the group quarters section is different, and is considered complete if any 3 of the first 5 questions are completed. (There are 7 total questions on that form, the last 2 are "Do you live or stay in this facility most of the time?", and "If no, where?") Those first 5 questions are:

*Name (Last, First, MI)
*Sex (Male, Female; Mark ONE box.)
*Age and date of birth (either answer determines this question to be answered)
*Are you of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?(race is different)
*What is your race?

You can answer -any- 3 of those questions and the form is considered complete and no other contact is taken/required.

If you need a reason other to complete or participate in the census other than just being required by law, every person in their community accounts for approximately $1400 EVERY year that their community gets in federal funding, distributed between state and local governments (which maintain your roads so you can drive without pot-holes as well as other things), and local organizations like homeless shelters, food banks, and other charitable programs.

Jesse

[KarenSusan]

I don't trust the government to give them any more information than I have to.

[Stina84]

That depends on a lot of things. If I were in the same room as someone who don't know about my CD'ing I would never do it.

If I were alone or together with my partner and knew I could trust the anonymity of the survey I would not have any problems telling them I was a crossdresser, provided the survey met my requirements for filling out surveys which are that unless the survey is done for a good purpose (like academic research) I'll only consider answering it if I get something out of it myself.

[JustAlex]

1. No
2. Considering my social/family circle, less than 1%. Overall... < 0.00000000000000000000000000000000000000000001%

[mklinden2010]

I think the question had to do with answering a census that asked about crossdressing, and, discussed speaking with a census worker.

There have been several very good posts about the law and the rules... But, in the interests of full disclosure, I've passed all those FBI checks, etc. and done the same or similar surveys.

And... I remember who told me what, where they live, what they plan on doing next, etc.

And, so, I haven't "ratted" anybody out - yet. But, put a gun to my dog's head and I might change my mind. Or, have a meeting and tell me about the "new" policy I have to follow - or, I loose my job, my security rating, and any helpful references...

So, when you think about it, it hardly matters then what "the rules" are when the stuff hits the right fan.

Keep that in mind... It's not paranoia, it's wisdom.

Don't answer if it feels like the wrong thing to do. It's your job as a citizen to manage your government.

[Stephenie S]

I am absolutely amazed at the hatred for this country and it's government that I am reading here. This is the greatest country in the world. It's also the most free country in the world. Who among all you nay sayers would willingly go live in a foreign country or think that life would somehow be better under a different from of government?

Yes, we have problems. Yes, there is lots we could do better. But honestly guys, where would you rather be?

Stephie

[MAJESTYK]

I not only would, I am anxiously awaiting the census so that I can. My wife expects no less from me either. "Aint gonna lie"

[echo]

Hard to say....

Some days I ain't even honest with myself! But, at least I am honest about my dishonesty!

[TNRobin]

I am absolutely amazed at the hatred for this country and it's government that I am reading here. This is the greatest country in the world. It's also the most free country in the world. Who among all you nay sayers would willingly go live in a foreign country or think that life would somehow be better under a different from of government?

Yes, we have problems. Yes, there is lots we could do better. But honestly guys, where would you rather be?

Stephie

I have no hatred for this country, and I don't see that here. What I do see, and what I believe as well, is a distrust of our elected officials and most especially a distrust of the unelected and unaccountable officials that are being put in charge of more things with each passing day most notably unelected, unaccountable appointed czars with no oversight.

I love my country. If I didn't I wouldn't have given them 10 years of my life and the medical conditions that went with it. I have lived all over the world and would live no where else.

As for what information is needed for the census, see Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution. A full accounting of the people is required for apportionment of districts, electoral votes, and whatnot. What they do not need is any information above and beyond this and have no business even asking, much less collecting it. So in my case this information will not be provided. Seriously, if they want then they can search for it and find it elswhere, but I will not volunteer it, it's absolutely none of their business.

[AliceJaneInNewcastle]

I started this thread as a spin-off from the question of whether us TG people (including those crossdressers who reject the current definition of TG, which includes them) are obliged to out ourselves to an SO or potential SO.
http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127574

I predicted that many would lie and pretend not to be transgendered. Sadly, as can be clearly seen in this thread, I was right.

I also commented on the fact that the more closeted a person is, the more pessimistic they tend to be about acceptance by SOs. It seems that there is also a correlation to government paranoia, in the USA at least.

So in summary, if someone made a genuine attempt to measure the number of TG people within society in order to help remove the stigma and improve the provision of support services such as legislative reform, counselling, public education campaigns, etc, an overwhelming majority would lie or fail to answer the questions, thus indicating that there was in fact no need for those improvements.

This leaves me wondering whether many here like being part of a marginalised minority and wouldn't like crossdressing to be more socially acceptable.

[mklinden2010]

>>Who among all you nay sayers would willingly go live in a foreign country or think that life would somehow be better under a different from of government?


I have and I would. The good ol' USA isn't everything good and wonderful that there is... Many countries offer freedom, safety, the rule of equal law, etc. Only a fool would think this is the best there is of everything. Fools are dangerous.

>>Yes, we have problems. Yes, there is lots we could do better. But honestly guys, where would you rather be?

G-u-y-s?

Your gun rack might be missing a huntin' cap or two....

If you don't get out much, at least take a Carnival Cruise or two before you disparage every other country on the planet with your, "USA - USA - USA" chants.

Other countries win gold medals too.

[Jamie48]

No way, that is not anybodys business except mine & the ones I choose to share it with.

[Joan Merrie]

Yes, I would answer, MtF transexual. Because thats what I am.:hugs::love:

[jenifer m.]

i would take the survay.for me i really dont care much.i have no problem saying that im just a mtf crossdresser.it would be fun to know how many of us there are in the world.we could never get a true number cuz i believe there are more of us in the closet than there are willing to admit to who we are.