146,000 Chicago Adults Identify As LGBTQ
The Chicago Department of Public Health (otherwise known as the CDPH) released a report this past Wednesday that lets us know how many people identify as LGBTQ in the city.
The report, which also asks about the health status of LGBTQ citizens, was created using data collected from the CDPH Healthy Chicao Survey from 2014-2016 and the CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey from 2009 to 2013.
The results found:
- It seems that about 146,000 Chicago adults identify as LGBTQ, which means LGBTQ people represent 7.5 percent of Chicago's adult population.
- Within that, 10,500 adults identify as transgender.
- Another health factor discovered was that lesbian and bisexual women of all ages are more likely to currently smoke.
- Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are less likely to have had their health checked in the past year.
- Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are more likely to report having had a sexual abuse experience.
Gay men are more likely to meet colorectal cancer screening guidelines and to have had an HIV test.
More: Health Experts Discovered An Incurable Gonorrhea Strain
Of course, all these results are based on respondents who “self-identified” as LGBTQ. As such, the CDPH expect the realities of these results to be much higher if LGBTQ people who aren’t out and open were included.
“We expect the actual number to be even higher,” said Brian Richardson, first deputy commissioner of the public health department, told the Chicago Sun-Times.
This report is part of the city’s plan to better the health of its citizens and especially those from minority groups.
“We know that the only way to ensure a greater quality of life and access to services for LGBT individuals is to better understand the size of, and opportunities and challenges specific to Chicago's LGBT community,” said CDPH Commissioner Julie Morita, in a statement. “This report is a first step, giving providers, elected officials and community leaders a deeper understanding of Chicago's LGBT population so we can in turn help better strengthen the community.”
“This report helps us ensure that we're identifying and reaching the most vulnerable in our LGBT community; so we can all grow and thrive,” said David Ernesto Munar, CEO of Howard Brown Health, one of Chicago's largest LGBT focused organizations. “This report is another way Chicago can be proud of our efforts toward building a more inclusive and affirming city for LGBT people.”
h/t: Chicago Pride
