Federal data experts say decades of research on sexual orientation and gender identity can point agencies in the right direction on including LGBTQ populations in more surveys.

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White House wants agencies to increase, improve collection of LGBTQ data | Federal News Network
Federal data experts say decades of research on sexual orientation and gender identity can help agencies better survey LGBTQ populations.

BIG DATA

White House wants agencies to increase, improve collection of LGBTQ data

Amelia Brust@abrustWFED
July 14, 2022 4:24 pm
9 min read

The federal government collects myriad forms of demographic data, but it could do more around sexual orientation and gender identities. In line with his administration’s broader diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility goals President Joe Biden is directing agencies to see where they can expand collection of LGBTQ data.

Biden’s June 15 executive order on “Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Individuals,” instructs the Interagency Working Group on Equitable Data at the Office of Management and Budget to establish a subcommittee on sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics data to coordinate with agencies. The group is supposed to release an evidence agenda by October, which should highlight disparities faced by LGBTQ individuals that could benefit from federal statistics and data collection.

This EO was signed a day after the House passed the LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act, which says agencies that “publish reports relying on survey demographic data must include information on sexual orientation and gender identity.” The bill went to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Monday.

Lucky for the Interagency Working Group on Equitable Data, they do not have to start from scratch. ... When the Census Bureau was considering adding questions about sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) to the experimental Household Pulse Survey in 2020, an Interagency Technical Working Group on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, also at OMB, released a report with recommendations for how to do so.

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