How Research May Help LGBT Civil Rights

In 2011, the federal government increased investment in research on gays and lesbians to inform federal policy.  Evidence from such research studies over the course of decades has been used to successfully overturn "Don't Ask Don't Tell".  Similar research studies had been conducted on gay and lesbian committed relationships in order to provide evidence that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) should be repealed.  

Since 1990 the U.S. Census has counted same sex couples, although the wording and structure of the questions have led to flawed results that could not be compared over time.  In future censuses, the federal government will ask clearer, more specific questions about sexual orientation and gender identity to gather more information about LGBT populations.  While counting LGBT people is very difficult simply because many gays and lesbians do not feel comfortable coming out, and some transgender people identify as heterosexual, gay, or lesbian first, one must assume that the federal government is collecting this data in good faith, to disprove some peoples' beliefs that "there are no such people" in their communities.

In 2011, the first federally funded study of at-risk and homeless LGBTQ children and youth began, in order to develop best practices for supporting LGBTQ foster children.  The study will assess current available services, and collect demographics of LGBTQ children and youth currently in foster care.
 
In 2013, under the Affordable Care Act, the Department of Health and Human Services will include questions about sexual orientation and gender identity on health surveys to improve the quality of health services for LGBT people.  The federal government also wants to determine if lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered people are more or less at risk for certain diseases or disorders than heterosexual people, and what might cause that increased or lowered risk.

There are pros and cons to the government collecting information from LGBT people.  While the positives--informing lawmakers, the President, the Supreme Court, as well as state governments, and those who interact on a daily basis with LGBT people so that they do not cause undue harm and help LGBT people become equal citizens of the United States--seem obvious, it is possible that future leaders of the United States can use Census data to monitor LGBT people for whatever reason they choose.  For now, we must hope that the federal government will use this information in good faith.