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Other

Female

Why we need better data

on the LGBTQ+ community

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About Mei

They/Them Pronouns
中文名字柯梅
Nonbinary and Queer
Masters Degree in International Affairs from UC San Diego
Specialization in mediation and diplomacy
Experienced in intercultural LGBTQ+ advocacy

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Goals for this Presentation

Higher level topic, but still accessible
Combining education and advocacy
Small changes, large impacts
Different levels of solutions

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The Problem:

LGBTQ+ people need recognition and representation in data

Group Question!

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LGBTQ+ people need recognition and representation in data

Data has an impact on policy, advocacy, and funding
Inclusivity creates efficiency in funding and accurate policy decisions
Gap between education and implementation

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Case Study:

Surveys

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Why Surveys as a Case Study?

Effort

Impact

Surveys

Small part, large impact
Easy to make, easy to change
Accessible for all programs

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Why is this important?

Applicable to almost every field

Medicine, Social Services, Grants, etc

Efficiency in data is vital

Costs of cleaning “messy” data
Bad surveys create mistrust

Group Question!

Why is this important?

Application to every field:

Medicine, Job Searches, Grants and Funding, Media Representation, Policy Decisions, Social Services

Without good demographic information, problems cannot be addressed in a way that is efficient

Costs of cleaning messy data, having a corrupted survey, or redoing survey are not worth it

But, why can’t we just not have identifying characteristics be a part of the survey?

Q: Why would “colorblindness” be an issue when collecting data?

“Colorblindness” in survey corrupts data

Need accurate data to actually understand the results and decisions that should be made

Ex: transgender as a group label is not helpful to understanding the impact of that label to the study

A single bad survey question can create mistrust with the community you are trying to reach

Acknowledgement of marginalized groups can help rather than hurt your results, shows your team understands the marginalized people in their community
You want your survey to be a mirror that your participants can see themselves in

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Why aren’t current education efforts working?

Education is not optimized to this problem
Organizations need direct guidance

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Solutions

Group Question!

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What can YOU do?

Continue these conversations
Focus on self-education
How can you be improve?

What can YOU do?

Continue to have conversations with diverse people and advocacy groups on how they want to be represented in their community

This applies to all parts of diversity!
What about race and ethnicity questions on surveys can we reform?

Focus on self-education

Develop relationships with D&I departments at your place of work
Do not assume that one friend at work who is part of a minority will have the time or energy needed for educating someone on a topic
Never assume you have all the answers, there is always room for growth

How can you improve?

If you are a data researcher, or are creating a survey, always ask yourself: what could I be missing?

Run your surveys and data by people who it will affect and see if they have anything to add

Ask yourself the purpose of the survey, why do you need the information?

Always be willing to adjust and change as needed to better serve the community you are trying to connect with

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What can the SYSTEM do?

Build up networks of coordination between advocacy groups
Pinpoint gaps in the framework
Proactive, not reactive approach

What can the SYSTEM do?

Build up networks of coordination between advocacy groups

A common problem, even in international advocacy work, is lack of coordination between groups.
This lack of networking and cooperation inevitably leads to inefficiency and entire populations being underserved
Coordination is high impact work that is also resource conservative

What work has already been done on this subject?
How can we make connections between the work that has been done and the people who need the information?

Pinpoint gaps in the frameworks we have and work to provide those services

Centralize the answers

Individuals need to know how to find information, as well as where that information may be
Have a database of examples and best practices that is updated regularly
Examples of ways to make inclusive surveys as well as general terms that should be used
Supplemental material to the education presentations

Identify previously overlooked partners

Diaspora communities that have formidable political and mobilization power
The United States provides perfect refuge for LGBT diasporas to form
These LGBTQ+ diaspora groups can provide the political, economic, and social power that advocacy groups search for
A partnership between these two forces can prove mutually beneficial for both sides

Proactive, not Reactive approach

Reach out to potential partners in advance to ask them about the planning they have done about this issue
Start the conversation before the need is even realized, so that you can address issues early on before discriminatory problems become too ingrained in a company’s culture to suppress effectively

LGBTQ+ inclusion and economic development is mutually reinforcing
Policies that recognize and highlight LGBTQ+ diversity in an organization is simply good business sense

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Discussion