New York State Department of Health Releases Report on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Approximately 8 Percent of New Yorkers Identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+)

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Report Provides Insight into the Size, Demographics and Health Needs of LGBTQIA+ Adults in New York State

Data Brief Finds Health-Related Social Needs are More Prevalent in LGBTQIA+ Communities

ALBANY, N.Y. (July 8, 2025) – The New York State Department of Health today released a new Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) brief providing insight into the sexual orientation and gender identity of New Yorkers. The report provides important information that allows the State to better understand Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer or Questioning, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) communities, their health needs and the health disparities historically faced by these groups.

"Gender identity and sexual orientation are inherent to and deeply personal aspects of an individual's overall sense of self and identity. This telephone survey of adult New Yorkers provides us with important insights and a better understanding of the health needs and health disparities historically faced by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer or Questioning, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) community members," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "While we've made progress in creating a more gender-affirming New York, our work is not done. The Department remains committed to improving social determinants of health, eliminating health disparities and protecting and promoting health and wellbeing for all."

Due to historic inequities that persist today, LGBTQIA+ communities face stigma and discrimination that can lead to chronic stress, which can result in poor physical and mental health outcomes. Transgender and gender non-conforming individuals are often at an increased risk of experiencing targeted backlash.

The BRFSS survey collected data on LGBTQIA+ individuals. According to the brief's key findings, over one million adults identify as LGBTQIA+ in New York State. An estimated 8.2 percent of adults identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or another sexual orientation, while an estimated 1.4 percent of New York's adults identify as transgender, gender queer, gender non-conforming, non-binary or intersex.

Key insights among adults who identify as LGBTQIA+ include the following:

• One in five adults aged 18-24 identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or other sexual orientation (LGBO) (20 percent), as well as a larger segment of certain other demographic groups, including females, adults who are currently unemployed, adults living with disability and adults with food insecurity.
• LGBTQIA+ adults are more than twice as likely to have higher rates of frequent mental distress and have more prevalent substance use than non-LGBTQIA+ communities.
• LGBTQIA+ adults report having higher prevalence of two or more adverse childhood experiences, suicidal thoughts and planned or attempted suicide in the past year than the non-LGBTQIA+ population.
• Several health-related social needs are more prevalent in LGBTQIA+ communities, including cost barriers for needed medical care, the lack of a regular health care provider, housing insecurity and food insecurity.
• LGBTQIA+ communities report higher rates of sometimes, rarely or never receiving needed social and emotional support. However, in the past year a greater percentage of LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers report having accessed one or more resources to support their mental health than the non-LGBTQIA+ community.

A 2021 New York State LGBTQ+ Health and Human Services Needs Assessment found similar patterns of health inequity among LGBTQ+ communities. The studies highlighted in the report suggest stigma and discrimination early in life significantly impact health equity. Examples of responses to societal stigma include stress responses, such as high blood pressure and anxiety, and can eventually result in poor mental and physical health. LGBTQ+ teens and young adults may be at increased risk for attempted suicide, depression and substance use disorder.

The Department's Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Services supports service providers to develop and/or enhance comprehensive health and human services for LGBTQ+ individuals, families and communities through the implementation of proven strategies and innovative interventions. The office oversees the LGBTQI+ Health and Human Services initiative and a portion of the Lorena Borjas Transgender Wellness and Equity Fund, a vital resource advancing the health and well-being of transgender communities across the state. Both initiatives focus on addressing disparities through building a wider, more sensitive and appropriate system to promote health and human services for LGBTQ+ individuals, families, and communities and aims to address issues related to the key social determinants of health impacting LGBTQI+ communities: health and racial equity, economic stability, education, social and community.

The Office of LGBTQ Services currently funds 48 programs statewide, including 44 regional Direct Service programs and four statewide Technical Assistance and Capacity Building programs. This work is supported by a $12 million investment of New York State funding, including $2 million for the Lorena Borjas Transgender Wellness Equity Fund.

The Office of LGBTQ Services has worked collaboratively across the New York State Department of Health—consulting on, supporting and leading several key initiatives. These include the statewide LGBTQ Needs Assessment conducted every five years, the annual HIV Self-Testing Giveaway and statewide LGBTQ Awareness Day campaigns.

The Department's Bureau of Chronic Disease Evaluation and Research implements the New York State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, or BRFSS. The BRFSS is an annual statewide random telephone and cellular surveillance survey conducted in all 50 states and US territories. BRFSS monitors modifiable risk behaviors and other factors contributing to the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the population. New York State's BRFSS sample is representative of the adult population living in private residences or college housing who have either a landline or cellular telephone, aged 18 years and older. Adults living in group homes or congregate settings are excluded from the survey. More information on this survey can be found here.

To learn more about the Department's Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Services click here.

Find identity definitions visit the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center here.

Information about creating a society that ensures equal rights are achieved for LGBTQ+ individuals can be found on the Human Rights Campaign website here.