Summary
In 2016, 49 people were killed and 53 injured by gunfire at Pulse nightclub, an LGBTQ venue in Orlando, Florida. Since then, gun violence prevention advocates and researchers have sought to understand how lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (or LGBTQ) populations are affected by firearm violence and to identify strategies that could save lives. While firearm violence is most often associated with mass shootings, it is a broader phenomenon that includes any firearm-related injury or death, including IPV and suicide by firearm.
This brief utilizes pooled data from the Gun Violence module of the 2021 and 2022 California Health Interview Surveys (CHIS) to provide information about risks and fear of firearm victimization among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations in California. Fewer LGBT than non-LGBT adults in California had firearms in their households (14% vs. 18%); however, risks for firearm-related mortality, including past-year serious suicidal ideation (15% vs. 4.0%) and intimate partner violence (IPV) (4.1% vs. 2.4%), were more common among LGBT than non-LGBT adults. Notable variability in the presence of firearms across regions and the prevalence of serious suicidal ideation across LGBT groups was observed. Findings indicate a need for enhanced firearm violence prevention efforts in some regions of the state and within specific population groups. Increased attention to safety in general and to mental health promotion for LGBT people is also recommended.