they have to ask for it.
they need the stats to demostrate that they are employing without bias. Welcome to the wonderful world of HR

Think yourself it's only gender. My Scottish Hockey registration form this year asks for sexual preference.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:31, archived)

That's fecking daft.
I'd hate to think I was employed to fill a quota rather than for my skills.
( Bob Todd whee, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:32, archived)

you wouldn't be.
but once you are, they'd have to produce a report showing that their employed staff match the area demographic blah blah blah.

think yourself lucky. You'll be in great demand to fill the 0.00001% asexual cybergoth mentallist demographic.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:35, archived)

I'm not a fucking goth.

( Bob Todd whee, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:36, archived)

Goffic!
*points at you*
( WormuIus, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:39, archived)

Poo Goff!
lolz
( Dave Trouser ; the people's choice - 75% agree, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:41, archived)

So they know which of the many changing rooms they need to put you in

( Pickle Fairy is clumsily dancing away this fear, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:33, archived)

no
so they can go "oh no, we have a lower* proportion of gays playing hockey than in the general population, how do we attract more flouncing marys to scottish hockey?"

* yes, LOL, hockey is a girls game so lower higher
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:37, archived)

Are you obliged to answer that question?
They may be obliged to ask it.
( Lord Gnome, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:36, archived)

course not
same as you aren't obliged to fill in your ethnicity, religious views, etc. But it's hardly a secret and if they think they can do something useful with it, good luck toy them.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:39, archived)

My guess is
That it gives the Office of National Statistics a reason to validate its budget as much as anything else- particularly when it comes to voluntary activities. I can see the point as regards employment as a way of measuring the effects of equal employment legislation, however I think there is a misconception about that too; namely that equal employment legislation merely states that it is illegal to discriminate against people on certain bases and does not actually set quotas which is the way it's often seen.
( Lord Gnome, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:46, archived)