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LGBTQ+ Populations

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Report
The Risk of Sexual Assault to Sexual Minorities in the U.S. Military
Service members who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, or who did not indicate that they identify as heterosexual, represented only 12 percent of the active component population in 2018. But they accounted for about 43 percent of all sexually assaulted service members that year.
Jun 1, 2021
Commentary
On RAND's Research Findings Regarding Transgender Military Personnel Policy
In September 2015, the Department of Defense asked RAND to initiate a study on the implications of allowing transgender personnel to serve openly. Since its publication, the research has been widely viewed as the most comprehensive and authoritative analysis on this topic. RAND stands by the study's research approach, analysis, and findings.
Mar 27, 2018

Explore LGBTQ+ Populations

Journal Article
Sexual Minority Substance Use Disparities: Bisexual Women at Elevated Risk Relative to Other Sexual Minority Groups
The objective of this study is to test for differences in the prevalence of a range of substance use behaviors and disorders across LGBT individuals of the same gender using a nationally representative sample of adults.
Dec 20, 2019
Journal Article
Sexual Violence in Childhood and Post-Childhood: The Experiences of Young Men Who Have Sex With Men in Beirut
We examined the prevalence of childhood and post-childhood experiences of sexual violence, and how they are correlated with each other as well as with measures of mental health, substance use, sexual behavior, and sexuality-related discrimination.
Dec 17, 2019
Journal Article
Health, Homelessness Severity, and Substance Use Among Sexual Minority Youth Experiencing Homelessness: A Comparison of Bisexual Versus Gay and Lesbian Youth
We examined subgroup differences in homelessness severity, depression, physical health, and substance use, focusing on differences between bisexual and gay/lesbian youth, among homeless youth in Los Angeles.
Dec 11, 2019
Journal Article
Early Alcohol and Smoking Initiation: A Contributor to Sexual Minority Disparities in Adult Use
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults report higher rates of smoking and alcohol use than heterosexual peers. Prior studies have not examined whether disparities in early initiation among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth contribute to adult disparities.
Dec 11, 2019
Journal Article
Using Ancillary Sociodemographic Data to Identify Sexual Minority Adults Among Those Responding "Something Else" or "Don't Know" to Sexual Orientation Questions
Using National Health Interview Survey data, this article compares three analytic strategies for using "something else" and "don't know" responses to estimate health disparities for sexual minorities.
Sep 19, 2019
Journal Article
Sexual Minority Disparities in Opioid Misuse, Perceived Heroin Risk and Heroin Access Among a National Sample of US Adults
LGB opioid disparities varied significantly by sexual identity &gender. All LGB subgroups had elevated lifetime pain reliever misuse. Bisexual women uniquely had elevated OUD rates and lifetime injection heroin use.
Jun 12, 2019
Journal Article
Differences in Substance Use Disparities Across Age Groups in a National Cross-Sectional Survey of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults
Using national data, we test for age differences in substance use disparities among LGB adults. Contrary to hypothesized decreased minority stress in recent generations, we find that disparities were not systematically smaller in younger age groups.
Feb 12, 2019
Journal Article
Disparities in Substance Use Behaviors and Disorders Among Adult Sexual Minorities by Age, Gender, and Sexual Identity
Disparities in substance use and disorders were most pronounced in young adulthood for gay/lesbian individuals and mid-adulthood for bisexual men; bisexual women uniquely experienced disparities across all ages. Minority stress experiences may vary with respect to gender, age/cohort, and sexual identity, resulting in differential risk for substance use.
Dec 27, 2018
Commentary
Public Health Reasons to Tune Into TV's 'Dear White People'
The Netflix series Dear White People shows how sexual decisionmaking can be influenced by race, status, and the power dynamics within a relationship. Public health programs and policies could be better tailored to account for this complexity.
Aug 10, 2018
Journal Article
An Event-Level Analysis of Condomless Anal Intercourse with a HIV-Discordant or HIV Status-Unknown Partner Among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men from a Multi-site Study
Sexual event factors—characteristics of partners, positions, and partner-seeking venues—associated with condomless anal intercourse among black men who have sex with men vary by HIV status and knowledge of partner status.
Jul 6, 2018
Infographic
Are They Living Healthy? How Well Are Soldiers Taking Care of Themselves
The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey sought information on the health, health-related behaviors, and well-being of active-duty service members. This infographic reports key findings across the Army.
Jun 21, 2018
Infographic
Are They Living Healthy? How Well Are Coast Guardsmen Taking Care of Themselves
The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey sought information on the health, health-related behaviors, and well-being of active-duty service members. This infographic reports key findings across the Coast Guard.
Jun 21, 2018
Infographic
Are They Living Healthy? How Well Are Sailors Taking Care of Themselves
The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey sought information on the health, health-related behaviors, and well-being of active-duty service members. This infographic reports key findings across the Navy.
Jun 21, 2018
Infographic
Are They Living Healthy? How Well Are Marines Taking Care of Themselves
The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey sought information on the health, health-related behaviors, and well-being of active-duty service members. This infographic reports key findings across the Marine Corps.
Jun 21, 2018
Infographic
Are They Living Healthy? How Well Are Service Members Taking Care of Themselves
The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey sought information on the health, health-related behaviors, and well-being of active-duty service members. This infographic reports key findings across the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard.
Jun 21, 2018
Report
How Healthy Are U.S. Service Members?
The DoD's Health Related Behaviors Survey asks about health and well-being issues that can affect force readiness. Results from the 2015 survey suggest that certain groups of service members warrant targeted intervention to prevent negative health outcomes and improve behaviors.
Jun 21, 2018
Research Brief
Sexual Orientation, Transgender Identity, and Health Among U.S. Active-Duty Service Members
The 2015 Health Related Behaviors Survey provides the first direct estimate of the percentage of service personnel who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). Results from the survey made possible a comparison of various health behaviors and outcomes among LGBT and non-LGBT service members.
Jun 21, 2018
Journal Article
Psychosocial Health Disparities Among Black Bisexual Men in the U.S. Effects of Sexuality Nondisclosure and Gay Community Support
Compared with Black gay men, Black bisexual men experience significant psychosocial health disparities; interventions to decrease biphobia could improve sexual minority community support for these men.
Jun 1, 2018
Journal Article
Gender-Based Discrimination and Unprotected Receptive Anal Intercourse Among Transgender Women in Brazil: A Mixed Methods Study
Among a population of transgender women in Brazil, constant experience with gender-based discrimination contributed to a sense of trust with their stable partners, diminishing the desire to use condoms, and also contributed to poor mental health overall.
May 2, 2018

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RAND Topic:
LGBTQ+ Populations

Topic Synonyms:
GLBT;
Homosexuals

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Keytin Palmer

Ph.D. Student, Pardee RAND Graduate School, and Assistant Policy Researcher, RAND

Keytin Palmer (he/they) is an assistant policy researcher at RAND and a Ph.D. student in the Technology Applications and Implications stream at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. He has an M.Sc. in political psychology from Queen’s University Belfast and a B.A. in psychology from New College of…
Robert J. Romanelli

Research Leader

Rob Romanelli (he/him) is a research leader at the RAND Corporation. Working primarily for RAND Europe, his focus is on health and well-being. Romanelli's work has covered evaluating health care system policies, programs, and interventions designed to improve the quality and safety of care…

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