A number of people on here have drawn my attention to this @TheSun story about #census2021 “Scots face 'baffling' list of 21 sexualities to choose from including gynephilic and skoliosexual” thescottishsun.co.uk/news/4894324/s…
While many people will find the @TheSun story amusing, it relates to a serious issue already raised by @SP_European with @NatRecordsScot who are responsible for census questions in 2021 and who are offering 21 answers in the “sexual orientation” question
When @ScotParl unanimously agreed to a bill asking voluntary questions on sexual orientation, there was no suggestion of “asexual” & “skoliosexual”. This expansion of the definition could undermine the understanding of, and protections for, gay & bi people.
When the committee found out about the 21 questions following an online census demonstration, we wrote to @NatRecordsScot pointing out “sexual orientation” is defined in Equality Act as gay, straight & bi-sexual. The letter is here parliament.scot/S5_European/Ge…
The @NatRecordsScot defend decision saying it’s what stakeholders want. But the census team have already been criticised for consulting too narrow a number of user groups, making them vulnerable to policy capture (and in this case, ridicule).
My personal observation - groups who advised @NatRecordsScot to include 21 orientations also insist respondents self ID their sex in census, despite data users inc @susanmcvie and @nickbailey37 warning against (and despite optional trans question)
Baffling how @NatRecordsScot chose which groups to listen to. The #Sikh community in Scotland are upset at not getting their own ethnic id box in #census2021. They are ignored - but skoliosexuality - without any scrutiny at all - is suddenly mainstream 🤷🏼♀️
Data users such as @kathmurray1 are critical of the 21 baffling “sexual orientations as well as sex self ID. @UKStatsAuth recently produced a review pointing out census authorities must consult with data users - see here statisticsauthority.gov.uk/publication/as…
