Richmond launches first LGBTQ survey at pivotal moment

Driving the news: The anonymous 16-question survey, in partnership with multiple LGBTQ organizations, went live Monday in English and Spanish.

• It includes questions about experiencing discrimination and what the city should prioritize — such as housing stability, health care access, public safety or jobs.
• The responses will help guide funding, policy and staff training decisions, per officials.

Between the lines: Similar surveys across city departments over the years have focused on groups including Spanish speakers, Black residents or people in public housing.

• But there's been a data gap on LGBTQ residents, who "we don't even have baseline data for," said Aneesah Smith, the city's equity and inclusion adviser.
• Smith, who started last August, told Axios getting that baseline was among her top priorities in her first year on the job.
• As of Thursday, roughly 400 people had filled out the survey, Smith said.

Context: The effort is also happening amid heightened "anti-LGBTQ rhetoric," Virginia Pride director James Millner told Axios.

• Last year's PrideFest lost at least two corporate sponsors following President Trump's crackdown on DEI initiatives — and Millner said the sponsorship uncertainty for this year's Sept. 12 event hasn't eased.
• "[The whole LGBTQ scene] feels chaotic and it feels challenging in ways that it has not, and that hasn't gone away over the last year," he said.

What's next: The survey runs through May 30, but four citywide listening sessions, where LGBTQ Richmonders can provide further input, will take place in June.

Go deeper: Richmond's hidden LGBTQ+ history