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Household Pulse Survey Shows LGBT Adults More Likely to Report Living in Households With Food and Economic Insecurity Than Non-LGBT Respondents
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) adult population reported living in households with higher rates of food and economic insecurity than non-LGBT Americans, according to U.S. Census Bureau survey data released today.
For the first time ever on a population survey sponsored by the Census Bureau, the latest version of the Household Pulse Survey (HPS) asks about sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). The HPS continues to provide insight into the experiences of American households during the coronavirus pandemic.
Overall, about 13.1% of LGBT adults lived in a household that experienced food insecurity in the past seven days, compared to 7.2% of non-LGBT adults.
By combining a series of three questions, the survey allows researchers to compare the recent experiences of the LGBT population to other adults.
Overall, about 13.1% of LGBT adults lived in a household where there was sometimes or often not enough to eat in the past seven days, compared to 7.2% of non-LGBT adults.
Other highlights from today’s release:
- 36.6% of LGBT adults lived in a household that had difficulty paying for usual household expenses in the previous seven days, compared to 26.1% of non-LGBT adults.
- 19.8% of LGBT adults lived in a household with lost employment income in the past four weeks, compared to 16.8% of non-LGBT adults.
- Among those living in homes that were rented or owned with a mortgage or loan, 8.2% of LGBT adults said they were not at all confident that their household will be able to make their next housing payment on time, compared to 6.0% of non-LGBT adults.
While earlier versions of the HPS asked respondents for their sex (male or female), Phase 3.2 rewords this question and adds two new items.
The first asks:
- What sex were you assigned at birth on your original birth certificate?
- Choice of answers: Male or Female.
The following question asks about current gender self-identification:
- Do you currently describe yourself as male, female or transgender?
- Choice of answers: Male, Female, Transgender or None of these.
It also now asks about sexual orientation:
- Which of the following best represents how you think of yourself?
- Choice of answers: Gay or lesbian; Straight, that is not gay or lesbian; Bisexual; Something else; I don’t know.
Today’s data release includes 37 detailed tables, most of which display SOGI estimates. In addition to the LGBT breakdowns presented here, the table package includes more detailed tabulations of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Just as with the previous 33 HPS data releases, the HPS tables show other core demographic household characteristics and provide insight into topics like employment, household spending, food sufficiency, housing security and physical and mental health.
Defining LGBT
Survey respondents are categorized as LGBT if they report a sex at birth that does not align with their current gender identity; report a sexual orientation of gay, lesbian or bisexual; or if they currently identify as transgender.
Respondents whose sex at birth aligns with their current gender identity and who select Straight on the sexual orientation question are categorized as “non-LGBT.”
Respondents who select None of these on the current gender question and either Something else, I don’t know or Straight on the sexual orientation question are categorized as “other.”
Additionally, respondents whose sex at birth aligns with their current gender identity but who select either Something else or I don’t know on the sexual orientation question are also categorized as “other.”
Near Real-Time Data From HPS
The HPS is designed to provide near real-time data on how the pandemic has affected people’s lives. Information on the methodology and reliability of these estimates can be found in the source and accuracy statements for each data release.
Data users interested in state-level sample sizes, the number of respondents, weighted response rates, and occupied housing unit coverage ratios, can consult the quality measures file, available at the same location.
The Week 34 data were collected between July 21 and August 2. The Census Bureau sent invitations to 1,042,642 households and received a total of 64,562 responses, for a weighted response rate of 6.1%.
Part of the Census Bureau’s Experimental Data Product series, the HPS was designed to have low respondent burden, provide quick turnaround on product releases and produce estimates that meet urgent public needs.
Survey questions related to sexual orientation and gender identity aim to understand the impact of the coronavirus pandemic across different subpopulations.
However, because the HPS is designed to rapidly produce experimental estimates, caution should be exercised when using these survey questions as standalone markers of the prevalence of LGBT adults in the general population. All estimates discussed here were calculated from a public-use microdata file.
Phase 3.2 of the HPS will continue collecting and releasing new data every two weeks. In addition to new detailed tables, the interactive data tool and COVID-19 vaccination tracker will also be updated.
The HPS is sent to about one million households every two weeks. If selected, you will receive an email from <COVID.survey@census.gov> or a text message from 39242. Additional information is available on the HPS respondent website.
Thom File is a sociologist in the Census Bureau’s Social, Economic, and Housing Statistics Division.
Joey Marshall is a survey statistician in the Census Bureau’s Social, Economic, and Housing Statistics Division.
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Census.gov > Topics > Population
The U.S. Census Bureau is the leading source of statistical information about the nation’s people. Our population statistics come from decennial censuses, which count the entire U.S. population every ten years, along with several other surveys.
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Census Bureau Releases New 2020 Census Data on Age, Sex, Race, Hispanic Origin, Households and Housing
The next round of 2020 Census data are available, adding more detail to the population counts and basic demographic and housing statistics previously released.
Press Release
Datos del Censo del 2020: edad, sexo, origen hispano y más
Nuevos datos del Censo del 2020 sobre edad, sexo, raza, origen hispano, parentesco y vivienda
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年齢、性別、人種、ヒスパニック系によるヴィンテージ2021人口推定がご利用いただけます
Videos
Video
Downloading, Exporting, and Sharing 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics Data
Learn how to download, export, and share 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics tables you find in data.census.gov.
Video
Finding 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics Data for Urban and Rural Geographic Components
In this video tutorial, we show you how to access data from the 2020 Census DHC for the urban and rural portions of a geography.
Video
Accessing 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics Data on data.census.gov
In this video tutorial, we show you how to access 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics housing data in data.census.gov.
Data Tables
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These tables present race by age data from the 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics File (DHC).
Table
The Older Population in the United States: 2021
These are the 2021 detailed tables for the older population in the United States.
Table
The Black Alone or in Combination Population in the U.S. 2021
View and download the Black Alone or in Combination Population in the United States: 2021 tables.
Visualizations
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Exploring Age Groups in the 2020 Census
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Publications
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This research brief provides an overview of the prevalence of multiple partner fertility in the United States in 2021.
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Age and Sex Composition: 2020
This report presents key findings from the 2020 Census on the age and sex composition of the U.S. population as well as changes between 2010 and 2020.
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This report describes the older population of the United States in 2020, with comparisons to the 2000 and 2010 Censuses.
Fact Sheets
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A U.S. Census Bureau interactive data visualization shows characteristics of same-sex couples at the state level.
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Asians: Fear of Going Out Causing Food Insufficiency During Pandemic
Household Pulse Survey shows that Asian respondents were twice as likely as White households to report not having enough to eat because of fear of going out.
Page Last Revised - June 10, 2022
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