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LGBT Equality Caucus

MEDIA CENTER

House LGBT Caucus Demands Trump Administration Restore Transgender Specific Demographic Question to Older Americans Act Survey

July 24, 2017

1727 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515

Date: July 24, 2017 Contact: Roddy Flynn, (202) 226-7572

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

House LGBT Caucus Demands Trump Administration Restore Transgender Specific Demographic Question to Older Americans Act Survey

Washington D.C.- Today, Rep. Ted Deutch (FL-22), Chair of the LGBT Aging Issues Task Force, and a bipartisan group of 75 members of the U.S. House of Representatives demanded the Trump Administration reinstate a demographic question relating to participants' gender identity to the National Survey of Older Americans Act Participants (NSOAAP).

"We have to ensure we are meeting the needs of the most vulnerable among us," said Deutch. "Study after study has shown that transgender older adults face greater social isolation, food insecurity, and disparate health impacts. It is cruel to remove a previously included transgender-specific demographic question and, in essence, send a message to transgender seniors that their needs are not important. I am proud to stand with 75 of my colleagues in calling on the Administration on Community Living to make sure transgender seniors are counted, respected, and have access to assistance they deserve."

The NSOAAP is used to evaluate whether the billions of dollars in funding for programs assisting older Americans are being used efficiently and effectively. Since 2014, the NSOAAP has included a specific demographic question relating to participants' gender identity that yielded vital data on the extreme challenges facing LGBT elders. On March 13, 2017, the Administration on Community Living (ACL)—which oversees the NSOAAP—revealed that they intended to remove the all LGBT-specific questions from the 2017 survey. On June 22, 2017, ACL restored the demographic question relating to sexual orientation.

Please contact Roddy Flynn at 202-257-8416 or roddy.flynn@mail.house.gov with press inquiries.

The mission of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus is to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality. The bipartisan, 111-member LGBT Equality Caucus is strongly committed to achieving the full enjoyment of human rights for LGBT people in the U.S. and around the world. By serving as a resource for Members of Congress, their staff, and the public on LGBT issues, the Caucus works toward the extension of equal rights, the repeal of discriminatory laws, the elimination of hate-motivated violence, and the improved health and wellbeing for all regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.