We’re thrilled to confirm Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has agreed to meet with us in March to discuss issues around Census research and how the LGBTQIA+ community is included and affected. 

Last week, Iranti released a press statement expressing alarm and dismay that that the national Census would not be enumerating the LGBQTIA+ community in any meaningful way.

Stats SA is conducting the nationwide census until the end of February.

According Stats SA, the Census 2022 questionnaire includes a question relating to sex which provides only two options – male or female – and this “refers to biological make-up of the person or the sex that is assigned at birth”. 

This effectually means that Transgender and Intersex persons will not be counted in the upcoming census. The census solely relies on counting a society that is cisgender and excludes a significant part of South Africa’s population.

“And if a Census excludes a significant population such as the LGBTQIA+ community, then by its very nature it encourages the state to erase our very existence,” Iranti executive director Jabu Pereira said. 

[WATCH] Pereira spoke with eNCA’s Gareth Edwards about concerns regarding the exclusion of the LGBTI+ community from the national Census. 

(Courtesy of #DStv403)

The current questionnaire also does not include questions relating to sexual orientation and will therefore not yield any data relating to lesbian, gay and bisexual persons in South Africa. This is contrary to South Africa’s constitution which recognises that South Africans are recognised by their diverse sexual orientations.

If there are issues with the Census research that we as an organisation have not covered, please contact us and share you views. We want this process to be as inclusive as possible.