What is the role of Interactive Visualizations in Understanding Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity?

Speaker(s):

Louise Capener, UK Data Service

Abstract:

The 2021 UK census introduced new questions on sexual orientation and gender identity, which were voluntary and potentially sensitive. This complicates analysis and means comparison of non-straight people, trans people or other novel group identifications may not be useful. Interactive visualisations allow audiences to test intuitions and focus on comparisons in otherwise impossible ways. Combining this novel census data with mental health, deprivation and rural/urban classifications or other demographic and environmental correlates can help understand how sexual orientation and gender are represented across the UK. We present the 2021 census data through three interactive visualisations to maximise clarity and minimise misunderstandings in the exploration of social and physical vulnerability.