Senate Democrats Highlight LGBTQ Representation in Energy Committee

Senate Democrats have recently unveiled survey findings regarding staff demographics, revealing that the Energy Committee boasts the highest percentage of LGBTQ employees among their ranks.

Specifically, LGBTQ staff make up 22% of the Democrat members on the Senate Energy Committee. This data, last updated on June 30, illustrates ongoing efforts that have been in place since 2017 as part of the Diversity Initiative Survey, with Democrats aiming to reflect the nation’s diversity within their offices.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the importance of inclusivity, stating, “As our Hall of Power becomes more inclusive, our democracy becomes more competent and representative.” He further noted that while these statistics show meaningful progress, there’s still more work to be done. He remarked on the strength of diversity, saying, “When all voices are represented, we grow stronger.”

The survey results for the Energy Committee show a consistent representation of LGBTQ individuals. Data from 2025 reflect a jump in LGBTQ staff representation since 2024, where the figure rose from 9%. Following closely, the Aging Committee has about 20% identifying as LGBTQ, while the Agriculture and Commercial Commission ranks third with 18%.

Additionally, Michigan Senator Gary Peters has the highest percentage of LGBTQ staff at 31%, with Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman close behind at 28%. Interestingly, Senate Democrats have highlighted that Senate Republicans have not published similar demographic information about their own staff.

The survey points out that when it began in 2017, nearly 40% of hires were people of color. In a broader context, recent data from February indicates that approximately 9.3% of Americans identify as LGBTQ, according to Gallup. Notably, this is an increase from just 3.5% in 2012, reflecting a growing recognition of diverse sexual orientations within the population.