THE PEOPLE’S MATRIX LAUDS LESOTHO GOVERNMENT FOR INCLUSIVE CENSUS QUESTIONS.

The People’s Matrix an LGBTQ community association in Lesotho applauded the government for expanding options under gender binary to allow gender diverse people to partake in the national census

Speaking in an interview with the Agency the association representative Tampose Mothopeng said that the inclusion of such options demonstrates progress in ensuring that every Mosotho is counted and represented regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.

Mothopeng noted that for many years members of the LGBTQ community have often felt excluded from national processes and statistics due to the absence of categories that reflect their identities.

Mothopeng stressed that the move by the Bureau of Statistics and the government shows willingness to acknowledge that different people exist in society and deserve equal recognition.

“We appreciate that the census includes the option of ‘others’ when asking questions about gender and sexuality because it allows people who do not necessarily identify within traditional categories to feel seen and included,” Mothopeng alluded.

However, Mothopeng indicated that despite the positive development, more training and sensitisation could have been provided to census enumerators to ensure that such questions are asked professionally and comfortably.

Mothopeng explained that some enumerators appeared uncomfortable when asking questions related to sexuality and gender identity, while others allegedly skipped the questions altogether due to uncertainty or fear of offending respondents.

According to Mothopeng, inadequate preparation may discourage some individuals from openly expressing themselves during the census process.

Mothopeng stressed that proper training would have helped enumerators understand the importance of the questions and how to approach respondents respectfully and without judgement.

“Training is very important because the way questions are asked determines whether people feel safe enough to answer honestly. Some members of the community may choose not to disclose information if they feel uncomfortable or judged,” Mothopeng said.

Mothopeng further highlighted that accurate data collection is essential in informing policies and programmes that address the needs of all citizens, including marginalized groups.

Mothopeng mentioned that the inclusion of diverse identities in national data could help improve access to healthcare, education, social services and protection for LGBTQ persons in Lesotho.

Mothopeng also encouraged members of the LGBTQ community to participate openly in the census and use the opportunity to ensure their existence and experiences are reflected in national records.

The national census currently underway seeks to gather demographic and social information that will assist the government in planning and resource allocation across different sectors of the country.

Source: Lesotho News Agency [LENA]