The Impact of COVID-19 on LGBT Community

The coronavirus pandemic, while devastating for all, has had a disproportionate impact across communities. In particular, minorities such as the LGBT community continue to suffer significantly on all fronts. This pandemic has exposed the disparity among resources, income, and access to healthcare across social groups. As a result, the consequences have been far dire for some as compared to others. 

It is only now, months into the pandemic, that these effects can be fully realized and appreciated. From economic risks to social impacts, we explore how COVID-19 has adversely affected LGBT communities across the United States. 

Higher Economic & Unemployment Risks for the LGBT Community

Even though the pandemic has economically devastated millions of individuals, LGBT+ remains one of the most adversely affected groups. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation conducted a study to assess COVID-19’s economic impact on the LGBT community. The study found that, economically, the LGBT population was worse off than the general population across the board.

For instance, 59% of LGBT+ individuals reported spending less during the pandemic than 53% of the general population. Similarly, 11% of the LGBT+ population has had to ask for a rent delay between January and August of 2020. This is because of lower levels of income and reduced working hours during the pandemic. 

Interestingly, only 8% of the general population had to ask for a rent delay. Statistics such as these show that the LGBT community is having a more challenging time surviving financially than the rest of the population.

Things aren’t much better on the employment front, either. As thousands of small and medium-sized businesses close during the pandemic, unemployment rates skyrocket. This is particularly true for the LGBT+ community, as 30% reported reduced working hours, leading to a reduction in income. 

According to one report, 17% of LGBTQ people lost their jobs during COVID-19 than 13% of the general population. As a result, 42% of LGBT+ individuals reported being ‘financially worse off‘ than 36% of the general population. Similarly, 10% of the 4,000 LGBT+ individuals in the study think that their finances will be worse off next year. 

These findings suggest that the pandemic continues to have a more significant economic impact on the LGBT community than the general population. A primary reason for this disparity is discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals within institutions. Not to mention, gray areas in regulations fail to support the rights and protect the interests of minority communities. Organizations and the government need to take drastic steps to rectify the present situation. 

Mental Health Toll on LGBT Community

Other than the economic and unemployment problems, there is a growing concern for the mental health of LGBT individuals. Mitchell Lunn, a Stanford Medicine nephrologist, conducted a study regarding the mental health status of sexual and gender minority groups. The study measured the anxiety and depression levels of LGBTQ+ individuals during the pandemic. 

As can be expected, there was an increase in anxiety and depression levels among the LGBT community across the board. Lunn attributed this increase to the threat of the pandemic as well as related consequences of the lockdowns. Among the direst consequences are the financial and economic constraints discussed above. As compared to 2019, almost all of the 2,288 participants reported feeling more anxious, stressed, and depressed. 

These findings suggest that healthcare workers need to pay attention to sexual and gender minority members’ mental health. More importantly, organizations need to monitor the mental health of LGBT+ individuals who do not even have a history of suffering from poor mental health. That’s because the study revealed higher depression rates for previously healthy sexual and gender minority members in 2020.

Worsening Medical Access

Complementary to the worsening mental health, the LGBT community is also suffering from worsening medical access. COVID-19 has already overwhelmed the medical care system to unprecedented levels. Hospitals are filled to the brim with a severe lack of resources and personnel. During these conditions, the healthcare system is neglecting the needs of LGBT+ individuals.

Some of the critical barriers to LGBT+ medical access have plagued the healthcare system for decades. These barriers have only intensified during the pandemic. For example, sexual and gender minorities report facing a lack of respectful approach from healthcare staff. This includes the refusal to call LGBT individuals with particular pronouns or names or problems in partner visitation.

In addition, sexual and gender minorities report being fearful of mistreatment because of unsuitable healthcare settings. Not to mention, affordability of healthcare services remains a significant challenge for millions of Americans, including those in the LGBT community. 

According to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the industries most impacted by COVID-19 have an overwhelming majority of LGBT+ employees. This means that LGBT individuals are more likely to be exposed to the virus. Yet, the same minority is more likely to struggle to afford healthcare within the United States. With decreasing income and rising unemployment, this remains a significant problem in the healthcare of the LGBT+ community. 

Adverse Social Impacts

The result of all of the above negative impacts is that LGBT+ individuals face increasing social isolation. From social discrimination to fear of job loss, the LGBT community is facing a crisis of connectedness. The pandemic has already made human connection fragile. 

This is especially true for minority groups such as the LGBT community. And if societies continue to sideline such minorities, the effects could be devastating. According to human rights experts, COVID-19 has made an ideal climate for the social isolation of minority groups. That’s because social gatherings for the LGBT community have always been a source of connecting with others and garnering a sense of belonging. 

Despite the availability of digital means of communication, the lack of human interaction is bound to take a toll. Not to mention, the sense of community forged through decades of strife is a coping mechanism for millions of people belonging to sexual and gender minority groups. As the pandemic lingers on, there is a growing fear that the LGBT community may face increasing social isolation compounded by medical and economic problems. 

Steps to Reduce Disproportionate Impacts on LGBT Community

Fortunately, the government and related institutes can reduce the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on the LGBT community. Firstly, hospitals need to train healthcare staff in responsiveness to cultural differences. 

This training would entail sensitivity towards sexual and gender minority group individuals in care, cultural nuance, and medical intricacies. Hospital administrators can distribute small training pamphlets for this purpose and devise complete community responsiveness programs. 

In addition, federal, state, and local governments can improve data collection techniques to understand LGBT community areas better. Through this data, they can increase awareness of the problems the sexual and gender minorities are facing. Similarly, federal grants can be offered on the national and state-level to aid LGBT+ individuals who have suffered a job loss or reduced working hours.

Many other such steps can be taken to improve LGBT community conditions. Yet, the time to act is now since the pandemic, and its effects continue to plague all communities.