In an article written recently by Sean R. Cahill, PhD and Harvey J. Makadon, MD, for the LGBT Health journal, it is reported that the Trump-Pence administration is eliminating the use of Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity (SOGI) questions on national surveys. They write:

The Trump Administration recently removed sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) questions from a national aging survey, and decided not to add a sexual orientation category and a transgender identity field to a national disability survey as planned. These actions have raised concerns that the major expansion of SOGI data collection on surveys and in clinical settings, which has occurred in recent years, may be under threat. SOGI data collection is essential to understand lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) health and the extent to which LGBT people access critical social services, including elder and disability services essential for living in community.

Special thanks to our friend, Dr. Carol Creech, an avid supporter of the LGBT community, for posting the article as a PDF.

It is believed by some that the collection of SOGI data is important on a number of fronts for the LGBTQ+ community.

For the design and delivery of health services that are specific in nature for the community

For the design and delivery of special needs services for the elderly and disabled members of the LGBTQ+ community

For the improvement of law enforcement response to and prevention of hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community

Upon the completion of the petition drive, we will send the petition results to President Trump, Vice President Pence, Senate and House committees responsible for services described in the petition, and to the specific U.S. legislators who represent the signees.

We are most grateful for your participation in the support of the LGBTQ+ community.

Tarrant County Green Party

Tarrant-county@txgreens.org

The petition can be signed at the Tarrant County Green Party (Texas) web site.

We the undersigned believe that the national collection of data regarding the sexual orientation and gender identity (known as SOGI data) of our citizens is essential to understanding the special needs of the LGBTQ+ community.

We reject all efforts to remove SOGI questions in national surveys.

We call upon the president, Donald Trump, and all elected officials, as well as members of the administration: