Today, Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-22) co-introduced the LGBT Data Inclusion Act of 2017. This legislation would require uniformity among all federal agencies to collect data on sexual orientation and gender identity. 

The current lack of population-based data on the LGBT community inhibits the creation of sound public policy as well as the delivery of effective programs and services. This bill would apply to federal surveys that currently include demographic data, information about the race or ethnicity, sex, and age of a survey participant through self-reported information or proxy reporting by a head of household, such as the Census. In addition, this bill includes the implementation of a process for federal agencies to routinely assess changes needed in the collection of this data.

In March 2017, the Department of Health and Human Services decided to eliminate questions about gender identity and sexual orientation from a survey on older Americans. As Chair of the Congressional LGBT Aging Task Force, Deutch led a letter signed by 49 Members of Congress urging HHS to restore these questions. HHS has since reinstated questions on sexual orientation, but has not reinstated questions on gender identity.

The text of H.R. 3273 is available here.