The Greater Cleveland LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment findings are in. Led by Kent State University’s College of Public Health, in collaboration with 120 local organizations and nonprofits, this groundbreaking initiative marks a significant stride toward understanding and addressing the unmet needs of LGBTQ+ individuals across Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Lorain counties. The findings were shared during a community event held Oct. 19 at Studio West 117 in Lakewood, Ohio.
“The core objective of the Greater Cleveland LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment was to identify and report the most pressing needs and priorities of our community,” Snyder said. “By leveraging principles of authentic community engagement and LGBTQ+-affirming collaborative partnerships, we have generated valuable insights that will inform local investments, programming and decision-making to better serve LGBTQ+ individuals in our region.
“The Greater Cleveland LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment gathered insights from 2,000 respondents – including 1,653 LGBTQ+ individuals and 353 LGBTQ+ allies – conducted 23 key stakeholder interviews and engaged 178 participants in listening sessions,” Snyder continued. “These participants were recruited to share their lived experiences through 120 community events and venues of significance. Results are available to the public via lgbtqohio.org, together with the 2SLGBTQIA+ Racial Equity Report, a self-reported health dashboard, and a local resource Linktree.”
According to Snyder, the key findings from the LGBTQ+ community needs assessment are centered around seven holistic domains of health, each tightly integrated with the social determinants of health. These domains reflect the lived experiences and challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Greater Cleveland, with a particular focus on health, religion, education, housing, employment, safety and recreation.
The survey revealed:
In the area of Health and Wellness, 5% of LGBTQ+ participants did not have health insurance coverage, highlighting a critical gap in access to essential healthcare.
Within Religion and Spirituality, 22% of LGBTQ+ participants reported feeling coerced into participating in religious or spiritual activities to access food assistance, temporary shelter or other basic needs.
In Education and Literacy, 93% of participants said they had to seek out LGBTQ+ sex education or information on their own, underscoring a widespread lack of inclusive and accessible sexual health resources in educational institutions.
In the area of Housing, Food and Basic Needs, nearly a quarter (24%) of LGBTQ+ participants have experienced housing insecurity, and 30% of respondents reported past experiences of food insecurity.
In Business, Employment and Commerce, 32% of LGBTQ+ participants reported feeling discriminated against at work due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
In the area of Safety and Law Enforcement, 55% of respondents expressed concern about their safety or acceptance in certain parts of Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain or Geauga counties because of their LGBTQ+ identity.
Within Recreation and Leisure, the top five obstacles LGBTQ+ participants faced in accessing recreation and leisure activities were time constraints, cost, lack of awareness of available options, distance from home and transportation issues.
The Priorities
These findings, along with 130 other indicators outlined in the full community report, paint a comprehensive picture of the systemic challenges that LGBTQ+ individuals in Greater Cleveland continue to face, calling for targeted interventions, policy changes and community-based solutions to improve health, safety and overall quality of life.
The top priority identified by members of the local LGBTQ+ community is fostering a culture of inclusiveness, empathy, open-mindedness, acceptance and respect, both within the community and in society at large. This remains true even when accounting for race and ethnicity, reflecting a universal desire for greater unity and understanding.
A close second is the demand for stronger laws to protect against discrimination, particularly in areas such as gender-affirming care, workplace rights, reproductive and family rights, marriage equality, gender markers on official documents, housing policies and the taxation of non-spousal health benefits.
Lastly, addressing feelings of uncertainty and helplessness by promoting actionable solutions and encouraging active community engagement is a key priority for fostering a more empowered and resilient LGBTQ+ community.
The Partners
The ambitious project was made possible through the generous support of primary funders, including the Cleveland Foundation, the George Gund Foundation, Mt. Sinai Health Foundation, along with contributions from the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, Kent State’s College of Public Health, the Brennan Family Foundation, University Hospitals, Cleveland Clinic and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio. Additionally, in-kind services from Studio West 117, NG Photography, Night Sweats and T Cells, Howling Print and Promo, Beachland Ballroom and Tavern, STEM Handmade Soaps, Near West Theater, Hope Soap and Dean Rufus House of Fun underscore the breadth of community support.
Snyder said the project’s primary community partner is the LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland, led by Executive Director Phyllis “Seven” Harris. “I am happy that the LGBT Community Center could offer support and collaboration to play a pivotal role in guiding this initiative to success,” Harris said. “Strategic community engagement and collaborative partnerships ensured diverse voices were heard and valued throughout the entire needs assessment process.”
“The Cleveland Foundation is committed to the health and wellbeing of the LGBTQ+ community and is honored to invest in community-driven research that will help guide our investments to elevate the voices and well-being of LGBTQ+ Greater Clevelanders,” said Andrew Katusin, program officer of grantmaking initiatives at the Cleveland Foundation. The release of the Greater Cleveland LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment follows the success of a similar assessment conducted in Greater Akron from 2020-2022, highlighting the importance of tailored approaches to address the diverse needs of LGBTQ+ communities across Northeast Ohio.
“This initiative represents a culmination of months of collaborative effort, exemplifying the power of community-led research and collective action,” said David Margolius, M.D., director of public health for the Cleveland Department of Public Health. “LGBTQ health is public health.”
“The ongoing commitment to inclusivity, collaboration and community-driven research exemplifies the project’s dedication to advancing LGBTQ+ health and well-being across the region,” Snyder said.
For more information about the project and the full community report and recommendations, visit https://www.lgbtqohio.org/greater-cleveland.
‑Photo credit: Bridget Caswell
Front row (from left to right): Kameron Pepera, Carey Gibbons, Bella Sin, Jehalni White and Andrew Snyder. Back row (from left to right): Ty Stimpert, Avery Ware, Ginger Marshall, Bree Easterling, Henry Ng, Emilia Lombardi, Gulnar Feerasta, Phyllis Harris and Erin Washington.