A new report from The Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, has found black, LGBTQ+ identifying adults face higher rates of health disparities compared to their non-LGBTQ+ black peers.
According to the report, 1.2 mil of the 11.3 Americans who identify as LGBTQ+ are black. It found the black LGBTQ+ community experienced high rates of depression, with 26% being clinically diagnosed with the mental health condition, compared to only 15% of non-LGBTQ+ black people.
Black queer women were found to be the most susceptible to depression, and were more likely to not have health insurance. The study also found black LGBTQ+ adults were more likely to engage in high-risk health behaviours such as smoking and heavy drinking.