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Should the Census start counting the LGBT population?

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A section of the U.S. Census form.

There's this long-held belief that one in 10 Americans is LGBT, but the reality is far from that: researchers don't exactly know.

There's this long-held belief that one in 10 Americans is LGBT, but the reality is far from that: researchers don't exactly know.

The best estimate comes from UCLA which finds that 3.5 percent art lesbian, gay or bisexual, and 0.3 percent are trans.

That's why activists are calling on the U.S. Census to begin collecting a comprehensive and accurate count of LGBT people in the country.

But there are challenges: what do Census workers ask to get the most honest answer?

And some LGBT people have trouble coming out to their families, so it might be even harder to answer a stranger who's asking you directly, "Are you gay?"

Take Two talks about how to develop a strategy, and the impact from knowing these numbers, with retired research director for the Williams Institute at UCLA, Gary Gates.

To hear the whole interview, please click on the blue player above

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