Census Gender Identity Question Fails, New Approach Delayed

On March 28, a confusing question on the 2021 census about gender identity led to wildly

off-stats on trans people in England and Wales.

The Office for National Statistics now admits the data was unreliable, overestimating the

numbers big time, like claiming 262,000 trans folks when it wasn't close.

They're scrapping that question for next year's test census, skipping 220,000 households

across six local areas as a dry run, before the full 2031 count.

Women's rights groups are calling it a straight-up win for common sense, blasting the original

wording for baffling folks, especially non-native.

English speakers who got it wrong four times more often, the stats watchdog tossed the

whole data set, pointing to spots like Newham and London, low on white British residents

suddenly looking like the trans, capital, which everyone knew was bogus.

People say the new question just isn't ready for the test space, so they're holding off

to avoid another mess, keeping things accurate for the real.

Deal down the line.