Gay white

• White LGBT adults exhibit a greater propensity for engaging in risky health practices than their White non-LGBT counterparts. A noteworthy 27% of White LGBT adults currently smoke, and 9% report heavy drinking, contrasted with 18% and 7% respectively amongst non-LGBT adults.
• A higher proportion of White LGBT adults than non-LGBT adults report experiencing moderate or significant limitations due to poor health. Specifically, 28% of White adults reported experiencing mild limitations (1-14 days of restricted activity due to poor health in the previous month), and 12% reported substantial limitations (15-30 days of restricted activity). By contrast, 20% of White non-LGBT adults reported mild impairments and 10% reported serious limitations.
• White LGBT adults demonstrate a heightened risk of certain severe health conditions, including asthma, diabetes, heart problems, cancer, hypertension, and high cholesterol, in comparison to their White non-LGBT peers. These health disparities affect both White LGBT men and women, with an exception for cancer in White women.

Access to health care

• Health insurance coverage is less prevalent among White LGBT adults compared to White non-LGBT adults: 13% of White LGBT adults lack insurance, compared to 9% of White non-LGBT adults. White LGBT women are more than twice as likely to be uninsured than their White non-LGBT counterparts (14% versus 7%, respectively).
• White LGBT adults are more likely to have Medicaid as their primary health insurance than their White non-LGBT counterparts (8% vs. 4%).
• Among adults raising children, a greater percentage of White LGBT adults are enrolled in Medicaid (14%) compared to White non-LGBT adults (6%). A particularly notable disparity exists within women raising children: 16% of White LGBT women and 9% of White non-LGBT women are on Medicaid, contrasted with 6% of White LGBT men and 3% of White non-LGBT men raising children.
• White LGBT women have a lower rate of having a primary care physician than White non-LGBT women (78% vs. 89%). However, the proportion of White LGBT and non-LGBT men with a personal doctor is comparable (79%).

Discrimination and stressful events

• White LGBT adults express feeling unsafe more often than their White non-LGBT counterparts. 14% of White LGBT adults disagreed with the statement "You always feel safe and secure," compared to 8% of White non-LGBT adults.
• Substantial numbers of White LGBT adults report experiences of discrimination and victimization. For instance, 68% reported daily discrimination in the preceding year (e.g., treated with less courtesy), 42% experienced physical or sexual assault as adults, and 77% reported verbal abuse. Comparable rates of discrimination and violence were reported among White non-LGBT adults.
• White LGBT adults also frequently cited financial and employment-related stress. For example, 54% reported insufficient funds in the previous year, 11% were laid off or terminated, and 26% experienced a major financial crisis. These figures are comparable among White non-LGBT adults.

Resiliency

• Approximately half (51%) of White LGB adults and 33% of White transgender individuals feel connected to the LGBT community. Fewer White LGBT adults (11%) reported feeling connected to their racial/ethnic group, in comparison to White non-LGBT adults (21%).
• Roughly 60% of White LGBT adults feel supported by their social networks.

In addition to national data, this analysis examined key outcomes for White LGBT and non-LGBT adults by U.S. region (West, Northeast, South, and Midwest). Patterns within each region mirrored the national trends. Full regional analysis details are available on page 30 of this report.

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