Australia’s First Census on Gender and Sexuality | Wilmington News

Australia just made history with its first-ever optional census questions on sexual orientation and gender identity — a bold move after initial hesitation from the government. Under the new Labor administration, teens and adults could choose from options like straight, gay, bisexual, or write in their own term for orientation, and man, woman, nonbinary, or self-defined for gender. Advocates pushed hard to include these questions, countering earlier concerns they’d be divisive. The census, which happens every five years, also reintroduced optional religion data — last seen since 1911 — aligning Australia with nations like Britain, New Zealand, and Canada. Experts say the country might soon expand to include intersex status. With 11 million forms expected and online submissions encouraged (with fines for non-completion), this snapshot could reshape how Australia understands its diverse population. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/56afd35684564fe3