San Francisco to Begin Collecting LGBT Data

The number of San Francisco city agencies collecting sexual orientation and gender identity data is set to grow due to the passage this week of an ordinance authored by gay District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener.

At its meeting Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an amendment to the city code that requires city departments and contractors providing health care and social services to collect and analyze data concerning the sexual orientation and gender identity of the clients they serve. Answering the questions, however, will be voluntary for the clients.

"For years we have heard stories about how programs and facilities could better serve our community, but so much evidence has been anecdotal," stated Wiener in a news release thanking his colleagues for supporting the proposal. "This legislation will allow us to collect real data that can be analyzed to show us where our city departments and non-profits are succeeding, and where we need improvement in meeting the diverse and significant needs of the LGBT community."

The legislation specifically applies to the departments of public health; human services; children, youth and their families; aging and adult services; the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development; and the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.

The impacted agencies and service providers need to start collecting the LGBT data by July 1 next year, though they can seek a waiver from the city administrator if doing so would not be feasible.

The departments will also have two years to submit a report to the city administrator that includes analysis of the data and identifies all services and programs where LGBT people are underrepresented. They are also tasked with developing plans to make their services and programs more accessible to the LGBT community.