New research shows that discrimination continues to shape the health-seeking behaviour of LGBTQIA+ women in South Africa.
Released during Lesbian Visibility Week (20–26 April), the 2026 Kantar DIVA Report shines a spotlight on the safety and healthcare access of queer women across several countries.
Study Examines Global Experiences
The report reveals that a significant number of LGBTQIA+ women have delayed or avoided healthcare due to discrimination.
The study draws on cross-market research, based on a survey of more than 3,200 LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people in Germany, India, South Africa, the UK, and the USA.
It exposes the systemic barriers that the community continues to face across different regions.
South African Respondents Report Mixed Experiences
In South Africa, many respondents said they feel safest at home and when accessing mental or physical healthcare. Encouragingly, 71% reported that they have found a healthcare provider they trust.
However, these positive experiences are not universal.
A concerning 42% of local respondents said they have felt dismissed, misunderstood, or not taken seriously by a healthcare provider because of their identity. As a result, many reported delaying or avoiding certain healthcare services.
One South African respondent stated: “I haven’t experienced barriers, but I have to ‘act straight’ sometimes to avoid being treated differently or given strange looks.”
Safety Concerns Extend Beyond Healthcare
The report also highlights broader safety concerns. Across all surveyed countries, only 25% of queer women said they feel safe in public spaces such as public transport, cafés, restaurants, pubs, and nightclubs.
“LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people remain underrepresented and overlooked. Their experiences are often shaped by conditional safety, uneven access to care and the need to navigate systems not designed with them in mind,” said James Brooks, Chief Research Officer at Kantar.
“Understanding the experiences of this community is crucial to building a fairer future – when people are invisible in data, they become invisible in decision-making. These findings underline the human cost of this. In healthcare settings, embedding inclusive practices can have a profound impact on how safe people feel and their ability to access the care they need.”
Lady Phyll, Executive Director of DIVA Charitable Trust, added: “This research tells a deeply human story about what happens when visibility is still conditional. When more than one in three people are delaying healthcare because they fear discrimination, we are no longer talking about symbolic inclusion – we are talking about people changing life decisions in order to stay safe.”
Kantar, DIVA Charitable Trust, and The Curve Foundation published the research. The full report can be downloaded here.
