LGBTQ People in Massachusetts: Strengths, Challenges and Opportunities in a Diverse Community

Seven years after the release of the original Equality and Equity report, the Equality Fund at the Boston Foundation and the Fenway Institute have come together for an updated look at the state of LGBTQ+ people in the Commonwealth.

The new report finds a growing and geographically dispersed LGBTQ+ community in the state. However, data show notable disparities between LGBTQ+ people and straight, cisgender adults in areas including health care, mental health, employment, and economic stability that require advocacy, progress and vigilance against potential threats.

Combining multiple datasets, the report takes an in-depth look at the demographics and health metrics for LGBTQ+ people, and combines that data with a series of interviews and online listening sessions to give a more human dimension to the numbers. Surfacing a number of equity gaps for LGBTQ+ people in Massachusetts, the report authors end with a series of policy recommendations, many of which grew from recommendations from listening session participants.