The data shows that 1 in 3 LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people are delaying healthcare because they fear discrimination
BY DIVA STAFF, IMAGE BY TONL IMAGERY VIA CANVA
The results of the annual Kantar DIVA Curve Survey have been released today to kick off Lesbian Visibility Week (LVW). Kantar are the people behind the world’s first inclusion index, and while LVW has been powered by DIVA Charitable Trust here in the UK, The Curve Foundation have been leading LVW celebrations and campaigns in the US. The theme for this year’s LVW is Health and Wellbeing, and so, this year’s survey dives into the lived experience of LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people when it comes to our physical wellbeing and mental health.
The research surveyed 3,212 LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people across the UK, US, India, South Africa and Germany, revealing a persistent gap between cultural progress and lived safety.
More than 1 in 3 LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people have avoided or delayed healthcare because they feared bias or discrimination
The findings convey the real-life consequences of unequal visibility and belonging, showing that identity-based fear is still shaping how LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people access everyday services.
The research also found that almost half said they had left a healthcare interaction feeling dismissed, misunderstood or not taken seriously because of their identity, underlining the wider trust gap facing LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people.
The survey also delves into respondents’ wellbeing both at home and in public spaces
While 62% say they feel very safe at home, that sense of safety drops dramatically in public life, with only around 1 in 4 feeling very safe in bars, cafes, restaurants or on public transport.
Lady Phyll, executive director of DIVA Charitable Trust, said: “This research tells a deeply human story about what happens when visibility is still conditional. When more than 1 in 3 people are delaying healthcare because they fear discrimination, we are no longer talking about symbolic inclusion – we are talking about people changing life decisions in order to stay safe. Lesbian Visibility Week exists because LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people are still too often invisible in data, media, leadership and funding. Our role is to shift culture, challenge inequality and create the conditions for our communities not just to be seen, but to thrive.”
You can see the full survey results below…
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