Loneliness rate among LGBTQ+ individuals

New data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that transgender and bisexual adults are more likely to feel lonely.

kk Naimool always knew they didn’t identify with a specific gender.

“I know non-binary is for me,” Naimool said. “I actually cringe if I think about male pronouns or if I think about female pronouns. It hurts me physically. I just don’t understand what it’s like to have to choose something and to be so strict.”

As a young child, Naimool felt like he had to hide who he was and worried about what others might think.

“It’s very isolating at a very young age to not know why people wouldn’t like you because you wanted to do something or look a certain way,” Naimool said.

As Naimool grew up, he found a community online.

“By talking to people, I made friends all over the world,” Naimool said. “Being comfortable talking about who I was made it easier for me to come out to my mother, and it made it easier for me to go to an event to meet friends.”

Although Naimool is now married and his family and friends are accepting, Naimool is not alone in experiencing these old feelings of loneliness.

Using 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 26 U.S. states, a CDC study found that rates of loneliness were highest among people identifying as bisexual (56.7 %), while transgender men, transgender women and transgender non-conforming ranged between 56.4%. % and 63.9%.

Loneliness among survey respondents who identified as gay (41.2%) or lesbian (44.8%).

People identifying as heterosexual or cisgender were less likely to be alone, with 30.3% heterosexual and 32.1% cisgender.

“Loneliness is a symptom of rejection and not being allowed to fully be ourselves when out in public. I mean the statistics are terrifying,” Naimool said.

Naimool now strives to help members of the LGBTQ+ community, especially young people, feel safe and connect so they don’t feel alone.

“My biggest fear is if these kids don’t find a safe space at home and if they don’t find a safe space at school, we’ve already set them up for failure,” Naimool said. “The Queer Family Network aims to build a network of chosen families, where children can find friends, where families can talk to other families and learn how to create safe spaces for their children.”

The CDC study also found that members of the LGBTQ+ community were more likely to experience frequent mental distress, have a history of depression, and feel they lacked social and emotional support.