Take action: LGBTQ+ people should be counted by U.S. Census

The Human Rights Campaign needs your help. The U.S. Census Bureau recently confirmed that it intends to move forward on its plans to test how it could safely gather data on sexual orientation and gender identity as part of the American Community Survey and now they asked for public feedback on whether to proceed with that testing this year.

The American Community Survey collects high-quality data on the demographics and experiences of the American people from year to year, but like the decennial census it asks no questions regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. The data and metrics gathered by the Census Bureau through this survey and the census are used to direct hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending annually. It is critical that our communities are included in these efforts, and this proposed test will help ensure we can all be counted safely and accurately.

HRC has long advocated that the Census Bureau and other government agencies work to safely collect information on sexual orientation and gender identity whenever they assess demographics like race and sex through their surveys and other collections of data. We are excited to see the Census Bureau answer this call, and that their plans reflect decades of research on how to best include LGBTQ+ people within surveys. If this test moves forward, the Census Bureau will be able to develop invaluable evidence that will help set the stage for the ultimate inclusion of LGBTQ+ people on the decennial census.

With the efforts of people like you, we have been successful in working with the Biden Administration to support LGBTQ+ people, including through recent regulations implementing discrimination and harassment protections in areas like employment, health care, and education we hope you will continue your support of important initiatives like this that will allow the government to better understand and meet the needs of our communities.

Please add your name to HRC's petition to the Census Bureau. Our perseverance is paying off, and we need your help to get this important work over the finish line.