Among Black LGBT adults, 34% report current smoking and 5% report heavy drinking compared to 23% and 2% of non-LGBT adults, respectively.
A final comparative report examines differences across racial groups among LGBT people. This report is part of a larger series, LGBT Well-Being at the Intersection of Race, which provides the same information for each racial/ethnic minority group in the U.S. For several key indicators, we also compared Black LGBT and non-LGBT women and Black LGBT and non-LGBT men in order to explore differences related to gender. In addition, we compared Black LGBT and non-LGBT adults across these indicators in order to explore differences related to sexual orientation and gender identity among Black Americans. We present an overview of their demographic characteristics and focus on several key domains of well-being, including mental health, physical health, economic health, and social and cultural experiences. 2 In this report, we analyzed data from several sources to provide information about adults who self-identify as Black and LGBT. In many ways, LGBT people are similar to their non-LGBT counterparts, but also show differences that illuminate their unique needs and experiences related to sexual orientation and gender identity.Ībout 40% of LGBT adults are people of color, including 12% who identify as Black. 1 They are a part of every community throughout the country and are diverse in terms of personal characteristics, socioeconomic outcomes, health status, and lived experiences. Over 11.3 million LGBT adults live in the U.S.