Source: Getty Images

December 29, 2020

New Report on LGBTQ Experience in Georgia Details Health Equity Disparities

READ TIME: 2 MIN.

Today the Campaign for Southern Equality (CSE) and Western North Carolina Community Health Services (WNCCHS) released a new report about LGBTQ health disparities in Georgia, as a supplement to The Report of the 2019 Southern LGBTQ Health Survey.

Georgia is home to more than 425,000 LGBTQ adults. More than 350 LGBTQ people in Georgia and more than 5,600 people across the South took part in the 2019 Southern LGBTQ Health Survey – the largest sample ever of LGBTQ Southerners talking specifically about their health and healthcare. The report released today provides new insights into the health disparities that LGBTQ people in Georgia experience.

The publication of this supplement comes one week before two crucial run-off election races that will determine partisan control of the United States Senate. The Republican and Democratic candidates have markedly different records on LGBTQ issues and could strongly influence how Congress takes action on LGBTQ equity issues, including the Equality Act.

Key findings of this new report include:

  • LGBTQ Georgians are more likely to be living with HIV than participants from other states in the region, with 8% of Georgia respondents saying they are living with HIV (compared to 5% in the total sample). Rates were even more alarmingly high among respondents from Georgia who are Black (37.5%) or trans (10.6%).

  • Trans respondents in Georgia were more likely than cisgender respondents in Georgia to experience poor mental health outcomes. These disparities were most visible relative to depression (82% of trans respondents said they have experienced depression, compared to 61% of cisgender respondents); suicidal ideation (53% of trans respondents, 26% of cis respondents); and self harm (40% of trans respondents, 20% of cis respondents).

  • Survey respondents from Georgia reported being registered to vote (93%) at a slightly higher rate than the rate of the overall sample (92%). LGBTQ Georgians who participated in the survey were also more likely to report feeling that their vote has a positive impact (84%) than the overall Survey sample (79%).

    READ: Turnout Among Young Voters Key to Georgia Senate Runoffs

    "LGBTQ people live across Georgia and deserve to have access to quality, affirming health care without leaving their hometowns," said Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Executive Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality. "This report illustrates that we must improve the health experiences of LGBTQ people in Georgia, which will require change from the level of the local health clinic all the way to federal policy making."

    "The most immediate and sweeping way to create the policy change we need is through action at the federal level, one reason why January 5's U.S. Senate races are so critical," continued Rev. Beach-Ferrara. "With one week left before the run-off election, we urge every candidate and all decision-makers in Georgia to examine this report and commit to working toward a Georgia where LGBTQ people can access quality care and are finally equal under the law."

    • Read These Next