Queer Data

Data has never mattered more. Our lives are increasingly shaped by it and how it is defined, collected and used. But who counts in the collection, analysis and application of data?

This important book is the first to look at queer data – defined as data relating to gender, sex, sexual orientation and trans identity/history. The author shows us how current data practices reflect an incomplete account of LGBTQ lives and helps us understand how data biases are used to delegitimise the everyday experiences of queer people.

Guyan demonstrates why it is important to understand, collect and analyse queer data, the benefits and challenges involved in doing so, and how we might better use queer data in our work. Arming us with the tools for action, this book shows how greater knowledge about queer identities is instrumental in informing decisions about resource allocation, changes to legislation, access to services, representation and visibility.

About the Author

Kevin Guyan is a researcher whose work explores the intersection of data and identity, particularly as it relates to LGBTQ people in the UK. He is a Research Fellow in the School of Culture and Creative Arts at the University of Glasgow and previously worked for a higher education organisation that focuses on equality, diversity and inclusion among staff and students in universities and colleges.