Williams Institute scholars file comment urging LGBT COVID-19 data collections
Williams Institute scholars continue to provide guidance to federal agencies for improving and expanding LGBT data collection. A recently filed comment requests that the U.S. Department of Commerce update the Household Pulse Survey and other data collection activities related to COVID-19 to include measures of sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Household Pulse Survey provides comprehensive information about the health and economic wellbeing of American people, including their employment, income loss, food and housing security, mental health and access to health care, and educational outcomes. The comment highlights research showing the health and economic disparities that LGBT face as well as the heightened vulnerability to COVID-19 among LGBT people.
Scholars submit testimony to Congress on the Equality Act
On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held the first-ever Senate hearing on the Equality Act, federal legislation that would update existing civil rights statutes to expressly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations, jury service, and other settings.
Williams Institute scholars provided the Senate Judiciary with new analyses and expert-written testimony that includes over 220 Williams Institute studies from the last decade. The testimony also contains new research showing that people in both public and private sectors continue to report harassment and unfair treatment of LGBTQ people at work and school as well as in health care settings and by law enforcement.
