Groundbreaking Study Shows Differences From Pandemic for LGBTQ+ vs Straight Community

A new study by the Williams Institute at UCLA finds older LGBTQ+ Americans were affected more negatively by the COVID-19 pandemic than their straight peers.
Using data from the U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey, the report examined the demographics, health, and economic experiences of LGBTQ+ adults aged 50–64 and those aged 65 and older during the COVID-19 pandemic.
That survey data included questions about sexual orientation and gender identity for the first time, granting researchers an unprecedented trove of information about LGBTQ+ Americans.
The survey considered different ethnic groups relying on credit cards or loans and savings or retirement to supplement their incomes during the pandemic. More White LGBTQ+ people reported using the same income sources they used before the pandemic to meet their spending needs. More Black, Hispanic, and Multiracial LGBTQ+ people reported relying on borrowed money from friends and family, and more Hispanic, Asian, and Multiracial LGBTQ+ people reported depending on stimulus payments compared to White LGBTQ+ people.
The survey also compares the percentage of straight and LGBTQ+ adults 50 and older who received a COVID-19 vaccine. In both age cohorts, almost all LGBTQ+ people had received the COVID-19 vaccine; more than their straight peers. But among those who tested positive or had been diagnosed with COVID-19, the proportions were similar.