USA | 92% of LGBTQ+ adults have had at least one Covid-19 shot

LGBTQ+ Americans are stepping up in the fight against Covid-19 by getting vaccinated at a far higher rate than the rest of the US population.

In a first of its kind study, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation released new data revealing that the vast majority – 92% – of LGBTQ+ adults surveyed in the United States had received at least one vaccination for Covid-19.

According to Our World in Data, just over 60% of the general US public has had at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose.

“We are encouraged to see evidence that suggests such a strong majority of the LGBTQ+ community who responded to the survey have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. The science is clear: vaccines are our way forward and out of this pandemic,” commented Jay Brown, Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Senior Vice President of Programs, Research and Training.

The data was sourced from a Community Marketing & Insights (CMI) survey of over 15,000 LGBTQ+ adults. The foundation noted that the study found that vaccination rates, while still high, vary somewhat within the LGBTQ+ community.

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.

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.

Covid-19 took a toll on the respondents’ well-being. The survey found 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 also found that 24% of LGBTQ+ respondents reported that Covid-19 had negatively impacted their financial well-being; especially among LGBTQ+ people of colour.

“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,” added Paisley.