Dear John,

It’s important that every LGBTQ person in the Commonwealth is counted in the 2020 Census. Trillions (yes, trillions) of dollars in federal funding for essential government programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and Section 8 vouchers are divided among the states based on the data collected in the US Census. In addition, the Census data determines Virginia's number of seats has in the House of Representatives and votes in the Electoral College. At the state level, Census data will also determine how Virginia forms its legislative districts.

Let’s imagine a world where we all count! When you get counted, you’re helping your community get the resources it needs to thrive and making sure that your community is properly represented in our democracy. LGBTQ people, especially those who are also marginalized in other ways, are typically undercounted which means our communities are underfunded and have less of a say in vitally important decisions. This is especially critical given that LGBTQ people are more likely to need government programs like Medicaid and SNAP than their non-LGBTQ peers.

Self-responding to the Census is the easiest way to make sure you are safely counted amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as it can be done online, over the phone, or by mail. Making sure you are counted now ensures you do not receive an in-person visit from a Census worker down the line, so you are helping to flatten the curve of infections and keep your community safe.  

Your household can easily and safely self-respond to the census online or over the phone in English by dialing 844-330-2020 or Spanish at 844-468-2020. Households do not need an ID code to respond to the Census online or by phone.

We know this Census is less than perfect – it doesn’t collect information about sexual orientation (unless you’re a same-sex household) and gender identity (the only options are male or female), but while we work on making the next Census better, we have to ensure LGBTQ Virginians are fully counted so we can get the resources our communities need for the next 10 years! For more information about filling out the Census as an LGBTQ person, check out the National LGBTQ Task Force’s helpful guide.

Thank you for taking time to make sure our community counts!

In Solidarity,
All of us at Equality Virginia