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State-Level Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data Practices: Inclusive Data, Responsible Governance

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Movement Advancement Project
Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy
Center for Democracy & Technology

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Report Resources

"State-Level Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data Practices: Inclusive Data, Responsible Governance"
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Press release
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Partner webinar on June 25, 2026
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"In This Moment, It’s Crucial That States Protect LGBTQ+ Data"
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Recommended Citation

Movement Advancement Project, Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy, and Center for Democracy & Technology. June 2026. State-Level Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data Practices: Inclusive Data, Responsible Governance. https://mapresearch.org/report/state-level-sogi-data-practices-and-governance/.

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Collection of data on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) by government entities can be a powerful tool to understand the experiences, needs, and disparities affecting LGBTQ+ populations, informing evidence-based policymaking, strengthening program accountability, and supporting civil rights enforcement. As federal efforts to collect LGBTQ-inclusive data are scaled back, state and local governments have become increasingly important sources of data about LGBTQ+ communities.  

However, realizing the benefits of inclusive data depends on SOGI information being governed by strong legal, ethical, and privacy protections. A new report from the Movement Advancement Project (MAP), Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy (AISP), and the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) equips state leaders and other stakeholders with data governance frameworks to support decision-making about how SOGI demographic data should—and should not be—collected, used, and shared. 

The detailed report maps the current landscape of state-level SOGI data collection, assesses emerging risks of data misuse in the present policy environment, and identifies promising policies and practices for leaders committed to ethical, responsible data governance.

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