Federal Agency Policy
Announced on May 8, 2017
Policy Summary
In April 2016, Members of Congress asked the United States Census Bureau to include sexual orientation and gender identity as subjects that Americans can be asked to be categorized as in the upcoming 2020 Census. Nearly a year later and after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the Census Bureau changed course and clarified that it “inadvertently listed sexual orientation and gender identity as a proposed topic” and that these two topics are no longer being proposed to Congress for the 2020 census. LEARN MORE
Analysis
Laura Durso, vice – president of the LGBT Research and Communications Project at the Center for American Progress said that the change would prevent the collection of information that is necessary to understand the needs of the LGBT community. Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Tom Carper (D-DE) have gone further by sending a letter to the Census Bureau asking for an explanation as to why the two categories were excluded from future census questions. The letter indicates that the information could be useful for apportionment and re-districting efforts and in helping to distribute $400 billion in federal funds annually. The decision to not include an option to classify oneself according to sexual orientation or gender identity ignores the LGBT community as a growing community in the U.S. This change also has the potential to change and diminish the electoral power of the LGBT community as a voting bloc as well as making the community unavailable for federal funds simply because the administration refuses to recognize them. LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- SAGE – A nonprofit group focused on LGBT issues for elderly people.
- Center for American Progress – A nonprofit group advocating progressive policy ideas on numerous issues.
- Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation – A nonprofit group focused on accelerating acceptance for the LBGT community.
This brief was compiled by Rod Maggay. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief, please contact rod@usresistnews.org.
