A massive “trauma burden” is pushing LGBTQ+ women to the brink

More than one in five LGBTQ+ women have attempted suicide, 66% reported seeking treatment for trauma, and nearly half live with anxiety (44%) or depression (51%). 

Those are the shocking new numbers revealed Tuesday in the Urvashi Vaid National LGBTQ+ Women’s Community Survey, named after the late lesbian activist.

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Pro-LGBTQ+ laws boost queer people’s mental health

“I walk around my city, and I see businesses that have gay pride flags and pride flags in their windows,” one gay man said.

“The trauma burden in this community is enormous,” said Jaime Grant, one of the survey’s researchers.

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The report conducted between June 2021 and June 2022 surveyed 5,000 “lesbian, gay, bi, pan, queer and asexual women across a broad spectrum of genders” who previously identified or currently identify as a woman.

The research found substantial health disparities, mental illness, and a lack of basic healthcare for LGBTQ+ women versus their straight peers.

19% of overall U.S. adults have an anxiety disorder, according to The National Association on Mental Illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 18% of U.S. adults have depression.

Researchers cited narriers to care for LGBTQ+ women as one source of the disparities. While 77% of the U.S. population has a primary care doctor, just over half of LGBTQ+ women do.

“Historically, medical spaces have not been safe for us,” said Savy Elahian, lead data analyst for the report.

“There’s been experimentation, there’s been medical racism. It’s important to understand the historical impacts, especially for LGBTQ+ people of color,” she said.

Respondents of color were twice as likely to report they lacked access to quality health care. They also reported higher rates of disability and attempted suicide.

Thirty-eight percent of respondents reported they thought they had a problem with drugs or alcohol “some” or “most” of the time, but just 6% reported having been told by a healthcare provider that was the case. It’s one indication of the disconnect between LGBTQ+ women and their physicians.

“LGBTQ+ women and gender-diverse people are really missing out on preventative care and holistic wellness,” Elahian said. 

Respondents were also questioned about the violence they’ve experienced. 47% of queer women had “survived some form of intimate partner violence,” compared with 35.6% of women in general. Friends were “by far their most significant resource” in the aftermath versus police, who were “not helpful at all” in more than half the cases.

One collection of data points revealed a positive disparity: Study questions about sexuality and sexual practices revealed queer women are having more sex than people in the general population, and they said their sex lives bring them significant joy and pleasure.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. The Trans Lifeline (1-877-565-8860) is staffed by trans people and will not contact law enforcement. The Trevor Project provides a safe, judgement-free place to talk for youth via chat, text (678-678), or phone (1-866-488-7386). Help is available at all three resources in English and Spanish.

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