In the first part of our series, we explored how current data sources are limited in what they can tell us about LGBTQ+ Minnesotans. The U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey (HPS) is the first Census Bureau product to ask about sexual orientation and gender identity directly, and this part of the series will explore what it can add to our understanding.
The LGBTQ+ community comprises many identities
As of the March 2024 HPS, about 5% of Minnesota adults identify as bisexual, 3% as gay or lesbian, 2% report their sexual orientation as “something else,” and 1% identify as transgender, non-binary, or another gender minority identity. Minnesota’s share and breakdown of LGBTQ+ adults looks very similar to national estimates.
A smaller share of LGBTQ+ adults have kids
We saw in the ACS data that a smaller share of same-sex partners live with their own minor biological or adopted children in the household: 10% of same-sex partners, compared to 39% of opposite-sex partners.
However, when we look at all people identifying as LGBTQ+ regardless of partnership status via the HPS, we see a higher share – 24% – of LBGTQ+ Minnesota adults living with children under 18, compared to 37% of non-LGBTQ+ Minnesota adults. Importantly, the HPS does not specify the relationship of the children in the household, so these children may be biological or adopted children, a partner’s children, siblings, or related in some other way.
LGBTQ+ Minnesotans are younger
HPS data confirms what we saw with the ACS: LGBTQ+ Minnesotans are younger, on average, than non-LGBTQ+ Minnesotans. HPS suggests an even larger age gap, with a median age of 32 for LGBTQ+ adults in Minnesota, compared to 50 for non-LGBTQ+ Minnesota adults.
Like the ACS, the HPS shows LGBTQ+ Minnesotans looking similar to the rest of the state in terms of race, income distribution, health insurance rates, and other economic measures.
LGBTQ+ Minnesotans report more stress and loneliness
According to March 2024 HPS estimates, Minnesotan LGBTQ+ adults were about twice as likely as their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts to report experiencing depression or anxiety symptoms more than half of days in the past two weeks (32% and 14%, respectively). We see a similar gap in adults reporting feeling lonely more than “rarely,” with 62% of Minnesotan LGBTQ+ adults responding this way, compared to 31% of non-LGBTQ+ adults in Minnesota.
LGBTQ+ adults are less likely to own their homes, but otherwise fare comparably on housing
We saw in the ACS data that Minnesota young adults in same-sex partnerships are less likely to own their homes. HPS also shows this homeownership gap and, unlike in the ACS data, suggests that the homeownership gap is present for older LGBTQ+ adults as well.
Apart from that homeownership gap, LGBTQ+ Minnesotans fare similarly to their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts on housing outcomes. HPS estimates show that LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ Minnesotans were equally likely to report being caught up on housing payments and facing no pressure to move in the past six months.
Household Pulse Survey adds to our understanding of the LGBTQ+ community
For the most part, the HPS tells a similar story to the ACS about the demographic and economic characteristics of LGBTQ+ Minnesotans. However, it allows us to take a closer look at the various identities that make up the community, and adds some valuable information around mental well-being and social support.
Importantly, neither the ACS nor the HPS ask any questions about the sexual orientation or gender identity of children. The last article in our series takes a look at the Minnesota Student Survey to learn more about LGBTQ+ children and youth in Minnesota.
READ THE ENTIRE SERIES
Part 1: What current demographic tools can, and can’t, tell us about LGBTQ+ Minnesotans and their households
Part 2: Same-sex couples as self-identified in the American Community Survey
Part 3: LGBTQ+ adults as self-identified in the Household Pulse Survey
Part 4: LGBTQ+ youth and children as self-identified in the Minnesota Student Survey
Our thanks to Dr. Kay Simon, assistant professor at the University of Minnesota Department of Family Social Science, for reviewing this series.