LGBTQ+ residents flock to progressive L.A. County. But many can’t afford it, survey finds

A new study found that the rising cost of living is creating new headaches for L.A. County’s LGBTQ+ residents. “What does it mean to keep drawing people here if they can’t afford to live here?” The survey, which Sears said was the largest to gauge how the county’s LGBTQ+ residents are faring, used responses collected last year by the county Department of Public Health, with the survey authors conducting additional follow-up research. “But our data makes clear that it’s becoming unaffordable for many people who want to come here into this safe place.” The report found that one in three LGBTQ+ residents said their household struggled to find enough food in the last year, compared with more than one in five non-LGBTQ+ adults. “It ruined the next few hours of my day.” Barbara Ferrer, director of the county Department of Public Health, said this discrimination translated into “stark inequities” in the health outcomes of LGBTQ+ residents. One in 10 said they did not go to healthcare providers in the past year “for fear of unfair treatment.” Speakers at the Tuesday meeting acknowledged that there were many reasons for the county’s LGBTQ+ residents to be concerned for their safety.