YThe Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, recently released new data finding that the vast majority – 92% – of LGBTQ+ adults surveyed in the United States had received at least one vaccination for COVID-19. Supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, this first-of-its-kind LGBTQ+-focused vaccination data is provided through the Community Marketing & Insights’ (CMI) 15th annual LGBTQ Community Survey of over 15,000 LGBTQ+ adult respondents.
“There are many reasons why LGBTQ+ vaccination rates may be higher than the general population, including higher percentages of the LGBTQ+ community being liberal, living in blue states, and living in urban areas,” said David Paisley, CMI Senior Director of Research. “While participants had strong education levels, those with no more than a high school diploma still had an 87% vaccination rate. We also see that COVID isolation significantly impacted LGBTQ+ people, which may have motivated quick vaccination to reenter the community.”
Although vaccination rates vary somewhat within the LGBTQ+ community, the rates across race and ethnicity, gender identity and sexual orientation, and age are well above the rates for various general adult populations where the data are available:
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By race and ethnicity, 90% of Latinx respondents, 85% of Black respondents, 96% of Asian or Pacific Islander respondents, and 85% of Native American/Alaskan and Middle Eastern/North African LGBTQ+ adults, among other race identities have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
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By gender identity and sexual orientation, 92% of cisgender lesbian and bi+ women, 93% of cisgender gay and bi+ men, and 92% of transgender and non-binary people have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
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By age, 91% of LGBTQ+ respondents aged 18-34, 92% of LGBTQ+ respondents aged 35-5, and 94% of LGBTQ+ respondents aged 55 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
While vaccination rates are high, COVID-19 took a toll on well-being among respondents. The survey finds that 59% of LGBTQ+ respondents reported that COVID-19 made them feel socially isolated, and 50% of respondents reported that it impacted their mental health.
The data finds the COVID-19 pandemic led to social and financial loss, especially among LGBTQ+ people of color:
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21% of LGBTQ+ adults surveyed reported that a close family member or friend has died from COVID-19
- LGBTQ+ people of color surveyed reported higher levels of loss due to COVID-19 compared to white LGBTQ+ people:
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30% of Latinx LGBTQ+ respondents
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28% of Black LGBTQ+ respondents
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25% of Native American/Alaskan and Middle Eastern/North African LGBTQ+ respondents, among other race identities
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18% of Asian/Pacific Islander LGBTQ+ respondents
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17% of white LGBTQ+ respondents
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36% of LGBTQ+ respondents reported that a close friend or family member has become very sick from COVID-19
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24% of LGBTQ+ respondents reported that COVID-19 has negatively impacted their financial well-being
- LGBTQ+ people of color surveyed are more likely than white LGBTQ+ people to have experienced a negative financial impact during the pandemic:
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33% of Native American/Alaskan and Middle Eastern/North African LGBTQ+ adults, among other race identities
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26% of Asian/Pacific Islander LGBTQ+ adults
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26% of Latinx LGBTQ+ adults
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25% of Black LGBTQ+ adults
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22% of white LGBTQ+ adults
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The 2021 LGBTQ Community Survey, a 15-year research project of Community Marketing & Insights, was produced in partnership with Wells Fargo, the HRC Foundation, and CMI Media Group. The survey includes data from a national sample of 15,042 self-identified LGBTQ+ community members living in the United States recruited through CMI’s proprietary LGBTQ+ research panel and through partnerships with over 100 LGBTQ+ media, events, and organizations.
The data are inclusive of diverse identities in terms of race, age, education level and other demographic factors and produce results with large confidence due to its sample size. Because the survey is widely distributed, with little control over the response or sample, the data cannot be extended to the population of LGBTQ+ adults in the U.S. In addition, the nature of the survey recruitment and distribution may partially contribute to higher levels of vaccination in the sample. Results should be viewed as a market study on LGBTQ+ community members who interact with LGBTQ+ media and organizations.
Read the full report at CMI.info.
