This study is the largest and most comprehensive study conducted on LGBT people in Colombia. It examines the demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, exposure to stress, discrimination and violence, and the health status of LGBT Colombians.
Highlights
LGBT respondents experienced high levels of victimization and discrimination.
One in five LGBT respondents had received conversion therapy.
LGBT respondents felt a high affiliation with their LGBT community.
Executive Summary
Colombia is a country of contradictions when it comes to LGBT lives. On the one hand, there are impressive gains in civil rights protections for LGBT people, such as recognition of same-sex marriage, eligibility for retirement pensions, and legal protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. On the other hand, there continues to be serious violence and discrimination against LGBT people, particularly gay/bisexual men and transgender people. There is also a continued risk of reversal of achieved rights as the conservative movement strongly opposes those rights.
This report aims to shed light on the LGBT community in Colombia by providing, for the first time, a comprehensive view of core health and well-being knowledge. The study provides a broad picture about LGBT people in Colombia in these areas: (a) demographic characteristics, including socioeconomic status, familial relationships, religion, geographical region; (b) experiences of stress, discrimination, and violence; (c) health and well-being, including psychological distress (e.g., depressive symptoms), drug use, alcohol use, and suicidality; and (d) connection with the LGBT community.
Overall, the study results show that LGBT people live across Colombia and come from all social strata. They experience high levels of discrimination and violence, and a significant proportion of LGBT people have experienced psychological distress and suicidal ideation.
Methods
The study used in-person and social media methods to recruit a sample of LGBT people who reside in Colombia. Because it is not feasible to obtain a probability (representative) sample, we aimed for a sample that is diverse in sexual identities, gender, gender identity, geographic residence, and socioeconomic status. Respondents were provided a link to an online self-administered online survey. Recruitment lasted five months from February to July 2019.
Results
This study is the largest and most comprehensive study conducted on LGBT people in Colombia. The final sample includes 4,867 LGBT people, including 1,243 cisgender and gender non-binary lesbian/ gay women, 895 cisgender and gender non-binary bisexual women, 2,163 cisgender and gender non-binary gay men, 334 cisgender and gender non-binary bisexual men, and 232 transgender people. Cisgender groups include 307 gender non-binary respondents based on their sexual identification.