LGBT people are particularly vulnerable after climate disasters

Photo: Craig Adderley/Bexels

Research has found that LGBTQ+ people are nearly twice as likely to migrate after disasters

The United States Census Bureau collected data on sexual orientation and gender identity related to displacement after natural disasters for the first time, and the results were alarming.

According to research, LGBTQ+ people are more likely to be displaced after disasters and face challenges such as food and water insecurity. Nationwide, about 2.4% of LGBTQ+ people said they were displaced by a disaster in 2022, compared to an estimated 1.5% of the total US population.

Previous research suggests bias in disaster response and the role of religious organizations in disaster recovery may be behind the disparity. they
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The data used in the analysis comes from the U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey, which began collecting data on how people are experiencing the pandemic in April 2020, but has since expanded to include other aspects of the pandemic. Protection, Inflation, and Living Conditions through Natural Disasters of Childlike Americans.

“This confirms and underscores previous anecdotal evidence we've heard across the country that LGBTQ people are disproportionately affected by disasters,” said Michael Mendez, assistant professor at the University of California and co-author of the report. “The data is actually worse than we expected.”

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