Royal Statistical Society Social Statistics Section
and the Social Research Association
Evening Seminar
17 January 2006, 5.00pm (Tea from 4.30pm)
Royal Statistical Society Headquarters, 12 Errol Street, London, EC1Y 8LX
"Queering Statistics"
Issues associated with estimating the extent and nature of the lesbian, gay
and bisexual population
The passing of legislation such as the Employment Equality (Sexual
Orientation) Regulations 2003 and the Civil Partnership Act 2004 has led to
a growing need amongst policy makers and others for statistics which
describe the extent and nature of the lesbian, gay and bisexual population.
However there is a distinct lack of reliable and authoritative statistics
which describe this population in the UK. Given the wealth of other
socio-demographic data, such as the huge number of statistics on ethnicity
and socio-economic status, why is this the case? Is it due to political,
ethical, methodological or conceptual problems? And if so what are these
issues and can they be overcome? Or has there been a failure amongst
statisticians, researchers and their funding bodies to recognise and
acknowledge this particular group?
Attempting to estimate the extent of the lesbian, gay and bisexual
population in the UK brings together a number of distinct challenges that,
in combination, make this a uniquely difficult issue to address. This
evening seminar will seek to examine relevant survey and methodological work
carried out to date, address the questions posed above and spark debate
about the feasibility and desirability of producing estimates of the
lesbian, gay and bisexual population.
Panel - chaired by Jil Matheson, Office for National Statistics
Katherine Cowan, Stonewall
Heidi Grainger, Department for Trade and Industry
Ford Hickson, Sigma Research
Jeffrey Weeks, London South Bank University
The seminar is free and pre-registration is recommended. You can register
by email: [log in to unmask] or by phone (020) 7638 8998. For a map and
directions see http://www.rss.org.uk/about/direction.html. The event ends
with a drinks reception at 6:30pm sponsored by TNS. The Royal Statistical
Society and Social Research Association look forward to welcoming you.
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