Proposed questions on sexual orientation and gender identity for the Census Bureau’s biggest survey

This year, the US Census Bureau plans to test questions about sexual orientation and gender identity for its most comprehensive survey of American life.

The test questions will be sent to 480,000 households, with the statistics agency expecting just over half to respond.

If the questions are approved, it will be the first time questions about sexual orientation and gender identity have been asked in the American Community Survey, which already asks questions about commute times, internet access, family life, income, education level, disabilities and military service. among other topics.

During the test, people can respond to the questions online, by mail, by telephone or through personal interviews. People who fill out the American Community Survey form typically answer the questions for the other members of their household in what is called a proxy response.

Due to privacy concerns, the agency suggests using flashcards for in-person interviews and using numbered response categories for people who don’t want others in their household to know their answers.

A look at the suggested test questions:

For everyone:

Gender question one: What gender was named at birth?

Possible answers: male; female.

For people aged 15 and over:

Gender question two: What is Name’s current gender?

Possible answers: male; Female; Transgender; Non-binary; and “This person uses a different term” (with space to write in a comment).

The second gender question is tested in two different ways to determine whether respondents should be allowed to select multiple answers.

Answers to the questions that allow people to select multiple categories are compared with answers that allow only one answer.

The agency also plans to add a so-called verification question for anyone whose answers to the two gender questions don’t match.

Sexual orientation question: Which of the following best describes how Name feels about herself?

Possible answers: Gay or lesbian; Straight – that’s not gay or lesbian; Bisexual; and This person uses a different term (with space to write in an answer).

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Follow Mike Schneider on X: @MikeSchneiderAP.