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City releases LGBTQIA2S+ community health needs assessment; report highlights housing, mental health and distrust of police
Summary
The Health & Human Services Department presented findings from a community‑driven LGBTQIA2S+ needs assessment. Among 447 respondents, respondents reported high rent burden, disproportionate homelessness and mental‑health needs, and low confidence in policing; staff said next steps include a community health summit and SOGI data best practices.
The City of Long Beach presented the results of a community‑centered LGBTQIA2S+ health needs assessment and recommended best practices for collecting sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data.
Ryan Magadini, the city's LGBTQIA2S+ health equity coordinator, described a mixed‑methods effort with listening sessions, a community survey of 447 participants and outreach events. The advisory group included community organizations such as APLA Health and the LGBTQ Center Long Beach, and community members were engaged throughout the process.
Key findings presented by the LGBTQ Center and partners included:
- Safety and policing: 59% of survey participants reported lacking confidence in seeking police help, rising to 77% among transgender, gender‑diverse and intersex (TGI) respondents; only 21.3% of respondents who experienced violence reported the incident to police.
- Housing and homelessness: 6% of respondents spent nights in shelters, while 64% reported couch‑surfing; 74.2% of respondents reported spending 30% or more of income on rent, and 31% of respondents reporting rent burdens identified as TGI.
- Mental health and access to care: 64% of respondents reported a lifetime diagnosed mental health condition; barriers included lack of affirming providers, appointment access, cost and lack of information.
'Collecting SOGI data whenever demographic questions are asked is essential in understanding the different needs and experiences of the LGBTQIA2S+ community,' Ryan Magadini said. The presentation included draft SOGI question examples and recommended culturally sensitive implementation strategies and translation guidance.
Community partners described next steps, including a health summit to present the full report and an action‑planning process led by Long Beach Forward and partners to pursue solutions identified by participants.
Councilmembers thanked staff and community partners and requested periodic follow‑up; staff offered to return with a more comprehensive report after the planned summit.
