Most LGBTQ+ people said they have personally benefited from legal protections in Washington state and believe the state's supportive policy landscape has improved public attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community, according to a survey led by a Washington State University researcher.
However, the survey also showed significant numbers of respondents said they had experienced workplace discrimination, been victims of a hate crime and faced difficulties obtaining medical insurance or treatment. They also reported high rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation.
Those are some of the broad takeaways from the Washington LGBTQ+ Survey, a first-of-its-kind project that gathered information from nearly 7,000 people, ages 11 to 98, in every county in the state. The survey was funded by the Washington State LGBTQ Commission to gather information on the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in the state and guide future policy decisions.
"This report is important in that it updates the information we have available and extends it quite a bit," said Traci K. Gillig, an assistant professor of communication at WSU. "We know that folks in the queer community don't all have the same experiences, of course, and a lot of times there are disparities that are entrenched based on different characteristics. Being able to see where those still exist is important for making sure that the state is able to do the best it can moving forward in protecting queer folks."
We know that folks in the queer community don't all have the same experiences, of course, and a lot of times there are disparities that are entrenched based on different characteristics.
Traci K. Gillig, assistant professor
Washington State University
Researchers led by Gillig surveyed people at community events and via online outreach during 2024 and January 2025 on a wide-ranging set of questions. The results will be presented at a daylong meeting of the state commission in Olympia today.
The survey found that in many areas, respondents felt that Washington's legal and policy landscape had made a positive difference in their lives - especially in comparison to other states with fewer such protections.
Three-quarters of respondents said they had personally benefited from Washington state policies, such as hate-crime laws and legal protections in education and health care, and 96% said they believed those policies had improved the attitude of the general public toward LGBTQ+ people. Virtually all respondents said they felt they had at least some access to LGBTQ+ resources and were at least somewhat connected to an LGBTQ+ community.
Eighty-seven percent said they felt safe in Washington.
However, the survey also identified several points of concern:
- Half of respondents said they had been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives, and the same proportion said they'd been diagnosed with anxiety. Nearly 27% experienced suicidal ideation in the past year.
- Nearly one-third of respondents said they had experienced barriers to medical care, with the highest levels of inaccessibility related to mental health treatment and gender-affirming care. Thirty-eight percent said they had avoided seeking medical treatment at least once, due to fears of discrimination.
- Almost a third of those who had changed their legal name said they experienced difficulties with the process.
Despite the general perceptions of safety, 22% of respondents said they had experienced a hate crime. About 78% of those involved verbal assaults. More than one-third said they were physically assaulted, and a quarter said they'd experienced property damage.
In addition, the survey revealed disparities by race and age in several areas:
- Those age 17 and younger were far more likely to say they had been unable to access medical care at least once - 60%, as compared to 31% for those ages 18-64, and 11% for those 65 and older. They were also more likely to say they had experienced discrimination in a medical setting.
- Black and indigenous respondents were far more likely to say they'd been unable to access medical care at least once - roughly twice the rate of white respondents.
"Racial and ethnic biases have contributed to persistent discriminatory practices disproportionately affecting communities of color. This research is essential for challenging the dominant culture and influencing policy," said Crystallee Crain, founder of Prevention at the Intersections and a co-principal researcher on the project with Gillig.
An aim of the survey is to bolster the LGBTQ+ community of Washington beyond providing updated statistics and findings.
"This survey isn't just about numbers - it's about visibility, belonging, and building a future where our communities are truly seen and served," said Sam Fennell, operations and policy manager for the Washington State LGBTQ Commission.
