Importance of
LGBTQIA+ Data Collection
**There will be statistics and other important information in this tab**
In the United States, approximately 4.5% of American adults identify as part of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ) community (McCarthy, 2020) But, according to a Gallop Inc. poll (2020), American’s believe that this number should be closer to 25%. Which one is correct? We don’t know because data collection on the LGBTQ community is scarce and underfunded.
These statistics, like all statistics, are based on an estimate from a sample. There is no significant data from a population survey, such as the census or National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to show the true population of the LGBTQ community. When you read about LGBTQ data collection one word always comes up: ‘estimate’. Usually, when you see data it will use the word ‘estimate’ when referring to large numbers, such as the number of people in the country. Most data you see in the paper or on television comes with a margin of error, usually around 1-3%. Statistics are taken as facts for many things in this country, but when you are talking about a specific population of the country, estimates are not seen with the same confidence.
Due to the lack of proper identifiers in polls, surveys, and health records, the LGBTQ community is being underrepresented. The lack of data collection of LGBTQ identifiers has led to many inequities for LGBTQ citizens in government, employment, education, and healthcare.
Some of the challenges to collecting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) data are the reactions of participants when being asked these questions, the sample size and statistical power, the cost, and having valid and reliable measures. Despite the concern of whether or not respondents will answer the SOGI questions, there is no data that backs up this concern. In actuality, the refusal to answer any identifying question is completely random, and therefore should not be considered a concern at all. It has also been shown that if you need to have a certain number of respondents to have statistical power with your claims, you will need to have a larger sample size or the need to oversample the group in question. Both of these solutions will cost additional money and working hours, but it can be done. Most surveys conducted to collect SOGI data “is never a cost-saving decision…” (Sell, 2017a, p. 1214).
According to Grasso et al. (2018, p. 67): “The recommended method for collecting SO/GI data involves integrating SO/GI questions into registration forms alongside other demographic information, such as race/ethnicity and employment, as this helps normalize the questions.”
In “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data Collection in Clinical Settings and in Electronic Health Records: A Key to Ending LGBT Health Disparities”, Cahill and Makadon (2013 p. 1), mention the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM’s) 2011 report on the health of LGBTQ which states there is limited data on LGBTQ populations but still found disparities. These disparities include a higher prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), behavioral health issues, obesity in lesbians, and the lack of proper testing for certain cancers.
It is important to know what a person’s gender identity and sexual orientation are in the health setting because of the health risks associated with each person. Statistically, lesbians and bisexuals are less likely to get tested for cervical and breast cancer, gay men still have the highest rates of HIV and STD’s in the country, and the emotional health of the LGBTQ community is much worse than those who identify as cis or heterosexual because of bullying and discrimination. The transgender community has its own set of health concerns because they need to be treated for some things based on the gender they were assigned at birth, such as transgender men need to get their breasts and cervix checked and transgender women need to have their prostate checked regularly.
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In 2020, it was approximated that 5% of Americans were members of the LGBTQ community. This statistic is misleading because the demographic identifiers in most surveys and polls are not LGBTQ inclusive.
Without concrete statistics, the LGBTQ community is not being represented in areas such as healthcare, employment, education, and many others.
Please take a moment to complete this survey of LGBTQ inclusive questions.