Graphic of the week: Pride Month 2026

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As celebrations for Pride Month continue, state data shows that more than 1 in 10 Ohio adults (10.6%) are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Ohio’s LGBTQ+ community is diverse, including people from all races, ethnicities, ages, sexes, genders, incomes and rural and urban communities.
 
Comprehensive state-level data on LGBTQ+ Ohioans has always been limited. These limitations, however, have worsened in recent years. According to the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, federal data collections (e.g., national surveys and surveillance systems, administrative forms and records) have removed more than 360 measures related to the LGBTQ+ community since January 2025. The removal of these measures makes it harder to quantify health challenges experienced by the LGBTQ+ community and close gaps in outcomes.
 
All Ohioans benefit from data collection that reflects our diverse communities and their different needs. For example, HPIO’s 2026 Health Value Dashboard includes disaggregated data for LGBTQ+ Ohioans. This data highlights how building policies and systems that protect against discrimination and support trauma-informed services can make our communities safer and more inclusive for everyone. The data also helps policymakers, researchers and advocates understand how to support the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ Ohioans.
 
Since 2022, local collaboratives and initiatives have started across Ohio to improve state and local data about LGBTQ+ Ohioans. For example:

• The Northeast Ohio LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment identifies and addresses the most pressing needs of the LGBTQ+ community in the Greater Akron, Cleveland and Mahoning Valley areas.
• The Greater Columbus INSIGHT is an LGBTQ+ needs assessment for central Ohio being completed in collaboration between the Ohio State University, local public health and community-based LGBTQ+ organizations.