Out in the Open: A multi-state perspective on LGBTQIA+ and Two-spirit data and how evaluators and researchers can support its collection

One of the responsibilities of evaluators and researchers is data stewardship. In 2025, there is a great need for our evaluation and research community to share responsibility for protecting and continuing to collect data that will serve the LGBTQIA+ and Two-spirit communities. This panel will discuss Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) data and how it can be used to protect, advocate for, and meet the needs of this community under attack by federal and many state governments. Several queer evaluators will describe their work to better understand and serve their community in Washington state, Oregon, South Dakota, Connecticut, and New Mexico. Discussion will focus on what data is available, what gaps exist, and what collection and analysis efforts are underway or in development. Participants will learn how they can play a part in transformative evaluation and research that advances the liberation of LGBTQIA+ and Two-spirit people in the United States and around the world.
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