CDC: LGBTQ+ community at greater risk for severe COVID-19 symptoms

Members of the LGBTQ+ community are at greater risk of experiencing severe symptoms of COVID-19, a new federal report found (Source: “CDC: LGBT community at greater risk to experience severe COVID-19 symptoms,” The Hill, Feb. 4).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Thursday, members of the LGBTQ+ community are more likely to have underlying health conditions that put them at an increased risk to contract the coronavirus and experience severe symptoms of the disease.

The report used data from the 2017-2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a collection of health surveys that gathers demographic and health-related information from noninstitutionalized U.S. residents over the age of 18 to determine health disparities. 

The report adds that racial and ethnic minority groups who are also members of the LGBTQ+ community are at an increased risk of experiencing severe coronavirus symptoms compared to their heterosexual counterparts. In addition, members of the LGBTQ+ community are more likely to experience discrimination and stigmatization that may increase their risk of illness and limit their access to proper health care, according to the agency.