LGBT New Yorkers: You responded and you were counted!

A few months ago, we asked you to take part in a historic statewide effort to research and document the needs of LGBT New Yorkers by taking a short survey.  Your responses provided vital information for the creation of the very first New York State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health and Human Services Needs Assessment. 

With nearly 3,500 respondents to the survey—as well as interviews and focus groups with 60 experts in LGBT health and human services from across the state and analysis of existing state and local data sources—this report is a comprehensive look at the health and human service needs of LGBT New Yorkers.  This report will help strengthen our advocacy work in making policy changes to provide more equitable and LGBT-friendly services to LGBT New Yorkers.  It will also reinforce the case for public and private funding for the LGBT community-based organizations that provide these services, including members of the New York State Health and Human Services Network, which the Pride Agenda facilitates.  Finally, it will provide much needed supporting documentation for legislative advocacy.

Some of the report’s findings include:

• For something as fundamental as receiving basic health care, 40% of respondents say that there are not enough health professionals who are adequately trained and competent to deliver healthcare to LGBT people, and LGB people lack health insurance at rates higher than heterosexual people (20.6% for lesbian and gay and 23.5% for bisexual versus only 14.9% for heterosexual people).

• 14% of LGBT people, and one-third of transgender New Yorkers, are or have been homeless at one time.

• 13% of LGBT New Yorkers have been victims of a homophobic or transphobic sexual or physical assault severe enough to require medical care. The rate is even higher for people of color: 19% for Black New Yorkers and 20% for Latino.

• Social isolation is a significant problem for LGBT people, with two-thirds of rural LGBT residents saying they feel isolated from others, and over half of LGBT seniors saying they sometimes or always lack companionship.

You can read the report here. Thank you for your participation in this important project!