Documenting Disparities for LGBT Students: Expanding the Collection and Reporting of Data on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Data represent a critical component in identifying and addressing inequity, and the availability of data from schools and in school-aged populations has been crucial for civil rights advances for U.S. youth. However, the availability of data on race and disability of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) students remain largely outside the bounds of available data on education and schooling. Yet there is insufficient national or state data that can be disaggregated by sexual orientation and/or gender identity (SOGI) that would allow systematic documentation of these disparities. The absence of consistent sources of data that include SOGI and its intersections with school bullying and discipline makes it impossible to understand the extent of the problem or generate approaches for remediation. This report documents some disparities for LGBT students through the collection and reporting of data on sexual orientation and gender identity.