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Lawmakers Urge HHS to Collect Data on LGBTQ+ Communities During COVID-19 Pandemic

Strategic Insights

— 3 min read

In a move to address the unique challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community during the COVID-19 pandemic, a bicameral group of lawmakers, led by Senators Bob Menendez and Tammy Baldwin, has written a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar, urging the agency to collect data on sexual orientation and gender identity. The lawmakers argue that the current lack of demographic data that includes these characteristics will make it difficult for health care providers and policymakers to identify and address the prevention and treatment needs of LGBTQ+ communities.

The letter, signed by nearly 100 lawmakers, highlights the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on the LGBTQ+ community, citing a recent report that notes members of this community are more likely to lack access to adequate medical care, paid medical leave, and basic necessities during the pandemic. The lawmakers also emphasize that collecting demographic data on sexual orientation and gender identity is increasingly common in major health surveys and public health surveillance systems.

The letter requests that HHS take several actions to address the data gap, including:

  • Creating a plan to integrate sexual orientation and gender identity data variables into COVID-19 surveillance systems
  • Sharing guidance with health care providers about why data on sexual orientation and gender identity is essential and best practices for asking patients to disclose this information voluntarily
  • Taking steps to ensure that federally run health facilities collect data on sexual orientation and gender identity
  • Sharing guidance with state health departments on how and why to include sexual orientation and gender identity data in their own COVID-19 surveillance efforts
  • Explaining how HHS will document and report on the impact of COVID-19 on LGBTQ+ communities
  • Explaining HHS' outreach to LGBTQ+ communities and organizations about the COVID-19 pandemic to date
  • Reaching out to national, state, and local LGBTQ+ organizations to collect community concerns and opportunities related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on LGBTQ+ health

The lawmakers also emphasize that collecting demographic data on sexual orientation and gender identity is essential for achieving health equity in the pandemic, and that the federal government should work with states and localities to provide disaggregated data on these characteristics when reporting COVID-19 tests, cases, and fatalities to the CDC.

The letter is a significant step in the ongoing effort to address the unique challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community during the pandemic, and highlights the critical importance of collecting data on sexual orientation and gender identity to inform public health policy and practices.

Key Takeaways:

  • Lawmakers urge HHS to collect data on sexual orientation and gender identity during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Current lack of demographic data will make it difficult to identify and address prevention and treatment needs of LGBTQ+ communities
  • Collecting data on sexual orientation and gender identity is increasingly common in major health surveys and public health surveillance systems
  • HHS should create a plan to integrate sexual orientation and gender identity data variables into COVID-19 surveillance systems
  • HHS should share guidance with health care providers about why data on sexual orientation and gender identity is essential and best practices for asking patients to disclose this information voluntarily
  • HHS should take steps to ensure that federally run health facilities collect data on sexual orientation and gender identity
  • HHS should share guidance with state health departments on how and why to include sexual orientation and gender identity data in their own COVID-19 surveillance efforts
  • HHS should explain how it will document and report on the impact of COVID-19 on LGBTQ+ communities
  • HHS should reach out to national, state, and local LGBTQ+ organizations to collect community concerns and opportunities related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on LGBTQ+ health

Statistics:

  • Nearly 100 lawmakers signed the letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar
  • Members of the LGBTQ+ community are more likely to lack access to adequate medical care, paid medical leave, and basic necessities during the pandemic
  • Collecting demographic data on sexual orientation and gender identity is increasingly common in major health surveys and public health surveillance systems
  • HHS has already developed internal guidance for collecting sexual orientation and gender identity data in a uniform manner to ensure that this data can be easily aggregated into established instruments

Sources:

  • Letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar from Senators Bob Menendez and Tammy Baldwin, along with Representative Raul M. Grijalva, and nearly 100 other lawmakers, May XX, 2020

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