Nearly half of lesbian, gay, or bisexual youth in Massachusetts have considered taking their own lives, as compared to 11 percent of their non-LGB peers. All told, despite the fact that the Bay State has a strong legacy of supporting gay rights and a reputation for openness and inclusivity, there’s still tremendous room for improvement. The study, titled “Equality and Equity: Advancing the LGBT Community in Massachusetts,” takes a deep dive into Massachusetts’ LGBT history, policies, and demographics to paint a picture of the population today. The LGBT community composes roughly 5 percent of the Massachusetts population overall, making the commonwealth the “second gayest” state in the country behind Vermont, according to the report. Nearly 16 percent of 18- to 24-year olds in the Bay State identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or something else, researchers from Boston Indicators, part of the Boston Foundation, and the Fenway Institute, housed under the Fenway Health umbrella, found.
Photo by billandkent on Flickr/ Creative Commonsīoston Pride Week is right around the corner, and a sweeping report released Thursday shines a bright light on the size of and the challenges faced by the LGBT community in Massachusetts.
