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Data Collection: Alaska Specific Data Element - Sexual/Relationship Orientation
Project-level data: Must be collected or reviewed/updated upon EVERY project stay.
Self-identified sexual orientation and optional additional sexual or relationship orientation data is collected for all adults and heads of households at project start, with two fields available for responses.
Clients are informed prior to responding of the voluntary nature of the question and that a refusal to respond will not result in a denial of services. The intent is to allow clients to self-describe and choose the term or terms that fit them best (see Additional Data Collection Guidance below).
| Data Element ID
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R3 & ASO
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| Implementation Date
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October 1, 2022 |
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| Data Element Name
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Sexual Orientation & Alaska Sexual/Relationship Orientation
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| Data Required For
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All Adults and Heads of Household (Only applies to clients actively enrolled on or after October 1, 2021) |
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| Data Collection Point
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Project Start |
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| Field 1 R3
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R3 Sexual Orientation
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| All adults and heads of household self-describe their sexual orientation. See Additional Data Collection Instructions for Sexual / Relationship Orientation below. |
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| Field 1 Response Options & Instructions
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Heterosexual |
Select an option at left when it corresponds to clients answer. Continue to Field 2 ASO Alaska Sexual/Relationship Orientation if client has additional response and/or as appropriate.
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| Gay |
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| Lesbian |
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| Bisexual |
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| Questioning / Unsure |
Use when Questioning / Unsure is clients answer do not confuse with Client doesn't know. Continue to Field 2 ASO Alaska Sexual/Relationship Orientation if client has additional response and/or as appropriate. |
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| Other |
Use when clients answer does not fit any other response option. Continue to Field 2 ASO Alaska Sexual/Relationship Orientation.
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| Client doesn't know |
Use when client does not know an answer do not confuse with Questioning / Unsure. Skip Field 2 ASO Alaska Sexual/Relationship Orientation. |
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| Client prefers not to answer |
Use when client prefers not to provide an answer. Skip Field 2 ASO Alaska Sexual/Relationship Orientation. |
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| Data not collected |
Use when client was not asked the question. Skip Field 2 ASO Alaska Sexual/Relationship Orientation. |
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| Field 2 ASO (Dependent)
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ASO Alaska Sexual/Relationship Orientation
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| All adults and heads of household are asked if they have an additional sexual orientation they would like to identify or a relationship orientation they would like to identify.
See Additional Data Collection Guidance for Sexual / Relationship Orientation below.
If client has no additional response and did not select Other to R3 Sexual Orientation, leave blank. |
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| Field 2 Response Options & Instructions |
Aromantic |
Select an option at left when it is corresponds to clients answer. |
| Asexual |
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| Demisexual |
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| Pansexual |
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| Queer |
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| Other (Ex: same gender-loving, stud) |
Use when clients answer is not available. |
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| Client doesn't know |
Use when client does not know an answer. |
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| Client prefers not to answer |
Use when client refers not to provide an answer. |
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Additional Data Collection Guidance for Sexual/Relationship Orientation
Clients should be informed prior to responding to these two questions that they will not be denied services or receive different services if they refuse to answer.
Case workers may ask these questions in a way that best serves each client. These questions may be asked together (with both sets of response options made available at once) or R3 Sexual Orientation asked first and ASO Alaska Sexual/Relationship Orientation asked as appropriate, depending on the clients response to R3 Sexual Orientation.
This data element allows clients to self-describe their orientation. The intent is to allow clients to choose the term or terms that fit them best. Clients who are transgender or non-binary may hold any of these orientations. Case workers may want to have the below commonly understood definitions for the response options available in AKHMIS for reference.
Commonly Understood Definitions
Please be aware of the following:
- The meanings of these terms may likely change over time.
- Meanings may vary across communities and not everyone will agree with these definitions.
- Many terms are not included in the list of available options; the intention was to keep the list as brief and relevant to providers as possible.
| Aromantic |
Having no interest in or desire for romantic relationships. |
| Asexual |
The lack of a sexual attraction or desire for other people. |
| Bisexual |
Emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to more than one sex, gender, or gender identity though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way, or to the same degree. Sometimes used interchangeably with pansexual. |
| Demisexual |
Sexual attraction towards another person only after establishing an emotional bond with that person. |
| Gay |
Emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to members of the same gender. Men, women, and non-binary people may use this term to describe themselves. |
| Heterosexual / Straight |
A woman who is emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to men, or a man who is emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to women. |
| Lesbian |
A woman who is emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to women. Women and non-binary people may use this term to describe themselves. |
| Pansexual |
Emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to people of any gender though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way, or to the same degree. Sometimes used interchangeably with bisexual. |
| Queer |
A term people often use to express a spectrum of identities and orientations that are counter to the mainstream. Queer is often used as a catch-all to include many people, including those who do not identify as exclusively straight and/or folks who have non-binary or gender-expansive identities. This term was previously used as a slur but has been reclaimed by many parts of the LGBTQ+ movement. |
| Questioning |
A term used to describe people who are in the process of exploring their sexual/relationship orientation or gender identity. |
| Same-Gender Loving |
A term some prefer to use instead of lesbian, gay, or bisexual to express attraction to and love of people of the same gender. |