Take Action
Resources
Latest
State Advocacy
Donate
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.
PreferencesDenyAccept
Privacy Preference Center
When you visit websites, they may store or retrieve data in your browser. This storage is often necessary for the basic functionality of the website. The storage may be used for marketing, analytics, and personalization of the site, such as storing your preferences. Privacy is important to us, so you have the option of disabling certain types of storage that may not be necessary for the basic functioning of the website. Blocking categories may impact your experience on the website.
Reject all cookiesAllow all cookies
Manage Consent Preferences by Category
Essential
Always Active
These items are required to enable basic website functionality.
Marketing
These items are used to deliver advertising that is more relevant to you and your interests. They may also be used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement and measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns. Advertising networks usually place them with the website operator’s permission.
Personalization
These items allow the website to remember choices you make (such as your user name, language, or the region you are in) and provide enhanced, more personal features. For example, a website may provide you with local weather reports or traffic news by storing data about your current location.
Analytics
These items help the website operator understand how its website performs, how visitors interact with the site, and whether there may be technical issues. This storage type usually doesn’t collect information that identifies a visitor.
Confirm my preferences and close
Resource
Health

The Importance of SOGI Data Collection

By: Skylar Patron, Health Equity Manager
Edited By:
January 22, 2024
SOGI Data Question Set

Linked at the button above is One Colorado’s most recent SOGI Data Question Set. This question set was approved by Colorado’s Health Equity Commission to be integrated into public health systems in accordance with HB22-1157. The CDC has also recently aligned with this question set. 

‍

What is SOGI Data?

SOGI stands for sexual orientation and gender identity. Historically, this data has not been collected in most federal, state, or local systems including by the Federal Census, the CDC, public health systems, and healthcare facilities. In recent years, this is starting to change, but there is still a lot of work to be done!


Why is SOGI data important?

Without data about how many people are in the LGBTQ+ community, the intersections of identities that exist within our community, and what our experiences are, we are largely not represented. Data can help demonstrate a trend or highlight a disparity that exists, which is oftentimes what brings in funding. Funding for the LGBTQ+ community is critical to being able to make change and start to close the gap on the disparities that we know and experience every day.

Here is an example of the different levels of a change that collecting SOGI data can affect in a healthcare setting:

  • Micro- Patients can receive whole-person, patient-centered, individualized care without assumptions being made about their identities.
  • Meso- Healthcare institutions can understand who they’re serving and create policies and practices to support the LGBTQ+ community.
  • Macro- Health disparities and trends can be accurately represented, allowing additional resources and funding can be allocated to address them

‍

When Data Has Failed Us

We know that quantitative data is not the only or necessarily best way to capture the nuanced experiences of our diverse community, but it has a lot of influence. Much of the data we have informing healthcare has historically been captured by and about white, cis, straight men and generalized to the rest of the population. It has often come from research in academia that has systematically excluded LGBTQ+ people, BIPOC, people with disabilities, and many others. This means much of medical care is based on bodies that do not represent ours.

‍

BIPOC have had data nonconsensually collected and used for science, which has contributed to a rightful distrust of these systems. Notable examples include Henrietta Lacks and The Tuskegee Syphilis Study. As we collect SOGI data in more places, it’s imperative to hold these truths about the harm data collection has caused and learn about the ways our communities have been excluded and exploited, so that we can make sure we are doing better and protecting each other. Our health matters, and we need to be able to capture it ethically and consensually so that we are no longer left out of research.

‍

Data Privacy 

Health and identity data is personal and should be honored and protected as such, only collected with informed consent, and only when privacy can be reasonably assured. Therefore, data privacy must be a priority when collecting SOGI data. If this data is not protected, it can be used for discriminatory purposes or even violence. Before beginning SOGI data collection, internal conversations around data privacy during collection and storage must be had, including de-identifying and aggregating data when possible. Chosen privacy techniques should be shared with those from whom the data is being collected. Transparency about data privacy and the way someone’s data is going to be used or not used can build trust and increase comfort in sharing identities.

SOGI data collection should not be used to gatekeep resources or services. It should always be offered as a choice to participate in, or there must be an option to choose not to answer. This ensures an individual’s autonomy over their own personal information and when or with whom they decide to share it.

A phrase you may have heard specifically used around Trans Day of Visibility is- “Visibility without protection is a trap.” To be visible in a world that does not value our safety, and that does not honor our existence, is definitely a risk. The decision to share identities in various ways each day can be a difficult, multifactorial one. We must honor this reality, and prioritize protection. SOGI data is imperative in helping to push the needle forward and making progress for our LGBTQ+ community. 

‍

Share this post
Copy share link
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Twitter
Share on Facebook
Health

Related resources

Change begins with education
View all
Health

LGBTQIA+ Protections in Colorado

Health

Election Wellness Guide

Election Wellness Guide
Health

Suicide Prevention Resources for LGBTQIA+ Coloradans

Suicide prevention resources and hotlines.

Stay in the know

Get updates on LGBTQ+ news, events, and ways to be involved!
303 E. 17th Ave, Suite 400, Denver, CO 80203
(303) 396-6170info@one-colorado.org
One Colorado
Our Focus
Take Action
Progress
Resources
Programs
Latest
Donate
Events
Action Fund
State Advocacy
Legislative Reports
Legislation Tracker
Endorsements
Donate
General
Team
Careers
Contact
Board Login
© 2023 One Colorado. All rights reserved.
Branding and website by Luum Studio
Privacy PolicyAccessibilityTerms of ServiceCookies Settings