Impact of Trump's Executive Orders on LGBTQ+ Data Collection

A recent report from the Williams Institute highlights a significant reduction in federal surveys that include questions related to sexual orientation and gender identity. This change is attributed to President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14,168, signed on January 20, 2025, which aims to defend women from what the order describes as "gender ideology and extremism." The report indicates that the removal of these questions was categorized as “non-substantive change requests,” suggesting that the rationale for their removal lacked valid justification or evidence.

The Advocate

The Williams Institute, a research think tank at the UCLA School of Law, emphasizes that these questions are crucial for understanding the needs and vulnerabilities of LGBTQ+ populations. Lauren Bouton, a policy fellow and research analyst at the institute, stated, “Federal data on sexual orientation and gender identity are essential for understanding LGBTQ populations in the United States.” The absence of this data hampers the ability to identify disparities in health, economics, and violence exposure among LGBTQ+ individuals, who are often at a higher risk for these issues.

The Advocate

The removal of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) measures from federal surveys has broader implications for the LGBTQ+ community. Elana Redfield, the federal policy director at the Williams Institute, noted that reliable data collection is fundamental for the federal government to identify and respond to community needs. She warned that eliminating these measures weakens the government's capacity to track disparities and prevent discrimination. As existing data becomes outdated and new data is no longer collected, the full impact of these changes will likely become more apparent over time.

The Advocate

The Trump administration's actions have extended beyond survey questions, with reports indicating a broader trend of erasing mentions of LGBTQ+ issues from federal websites and reports. This has sparked protests, including a notable incident involving the removal of a Pride flag at the Stonewall Inn national monument in New York, which led to public outcry and legal action.

The Advocate

Critics of Executive Order 14,168 argue that it undermines the visibility and representation of LGBTQ+ individuals within federal data collection efforts. The removal of these questions is seen as a step backward in addressing the specific needs of the LGBTQ+ community, which has historically faced significant disparities in various sectors. The lack of data could hinder the allocation of necessary resources and programming aimed at supporting this vulnerable population.

The Advocate

• “Federal data on sexual orientation and gender identity are essential for understanding LGBTQ populations in the United States,” — Lauren Bouton, Policy Fellow, Williams Institute

The Advocate

• “Eliminating SOGI [sexual orientation and gender identity] measures weakens the government’s ability to track disparities and document and prevent discrimination.” — Elana Redfield, Federal Policy Director, Williams Institute

The Advocate

The ongoing changes to federal data collection practices raise critical questions about the future of LGBTQ+ representation in government statistics and the potential consequences for policy-making and resource allocation.

The Advocate