Federal LGBT Workers Will Be Asked to Come Out — In a Survey

Office-of-personnel-management-director-john-berryx400

For the first time, federal workers are going to be asked two important things: if they're lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender and if they're happy with their jobs.

Diane Anderson-Minshall

Diane Anderson-Minshall is the CEO of Pride Media, and editorial director of The Advocate, Out, and Plus magazine. She's the winner of numerous awards from GLAAD, the NLGJA, WPA, and was named to Folio's Top Women in Media list. She and her co-pilot of 30 years, transgender journalist Jacob Anderson-Minshall penned several books including Queerly Beloved: A Love Across Genders.

Read Full Bio

Diane Anderson-Minshall

May 09 2012 2:54 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

deliciousdiane

Sorry to interrupt...
But we wanted to take a moment to thank you for reading. Your support makes original LGBTQ+ reporting possible. Help us hold Trump accountable.

One-time Monthly

$19.67 $50 Other

$5 $19.67 $50

For the first time, federal workers are going to be asked two important things: if they're lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender and if they're happy with their jobs.

According to The Washington Post, this census of sexual orientation and gender identity appears in the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, along with other new questions asking federal employees if they have served in the military and whether they are disabled. The comprehensive annual survey is going out to nearly 2 million workers (compared with just over a quarter million last year) and will include all permanent employees (both part-time and full-time).

The Obama administration's highest-ranking out gay official, Office of Personnel Managment chief John Berry, told the Post that the agency wants to "learn as much as we can from our employees so we can better serve them." It will be the first time anyone knows just how many federal employees identify as LGBT -- and may lead to better benefits and workplace policies.