New Report Highlights Economic Strain, Safety Fears for LGBTQ+ Residents Displaced by Eaton Fire

As recovery efforts continue in the wake of the Eaton Fire, a new report from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health underscores the unique vulnerabilities facing LGBTQ+ residents across Los Angeles County, including those now navigating displacement, housing instability, and safety concerns intensified by disaster.

By News Desk

Approximately 665,000 LGBTQ adults live in Los Angeles County, making up nearly 9% of the county’s adult population. They live, work, shop, worship, and seek services in every Supervisorial District, from District 3, home to roughly 211,000 LGBTQ adults, to District 2, with nearly 98,000.

The findings, drawn from 1,006 LGBTQ respondents to the 2023 Los Angeles County Health Survey and a follow-up study known as LELAC, paint a picture of both resilience and persistent inequity, challenges that can be compounded during crises such as the Eaton Fire.

Economic Precarity Amplified by Crisis

More than one-third (35%) of LGBTQ adults in Los Angeles County live below 200% of the federal poverty level. Transgender adults (47%) and LGBTQ adults of color (42%) are disproportionately affected.

For residents displaced or financially strained by the Eaton Fire, those numbers take on heightened urgency. LGBTQ adults are more likely than non-LGBTQ adults to:

• Experience food insecurity (32%)
• Spend over 30% of income on housing (61%)
• Have difficulty paying rent or mortgages (19%)
• Have experienced homelessness in the past five years (11%)

High rental rates compound vulnerability: 61% of LGBTQ adults are renters, including more than two-thirds of transgender and nonbinary adults. In post-fire housing searches, 12% report having been refused housing because of their LGBTQ identity.

“Affording life in Los Angeles” was identified as the top concern among LGBTQ residents, a concern that becomes even more acute when disasters disrupt income, housing, and community networks.

Safety Concerns Shape Daily Life

Even before the Eaton Fire, many LGBTQ residents reported altering their daily routines due to safety fears.

• 51% reported verbal harassment because of their LGBTQ identity.
• 32% experienced harassment from strangers on the street.
• Nearly one in five avoid restaurants, entertainment venues, or public transportation to prevent mistreatment.
• 29% feel unsafe in their own neighborhoods at least some of the time.

Transgender and nonbinary adults were more than twice as likely as cisgender LGBQ adults to avoid public parks, beaches, or transportation due to safety concerns.

In emergency situations, evacuations, shelters, public assistance sites, such fears can deter individuals from seeking help. Eleven percent of LGBTQ adults reported avoiding health care in the past year due to fear of unfair treatment, and 8% avoided care out of fear of violence.

Discrimination Persists Despite Legal Protections

More than one-third (36%) of LGBTQ adults reported unfair treatment in Los Angeles County because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Nearly half of employed LGBTQ adults are not out to their supervisors.

Workplace discrimination remains a concern:

• 12% reported being fired or not promoted.
• 11% reported not being hired.
• 20% reported verbal harassment at work.

Housing discrimination and harassment by landlords or neighbors were also reported by more than one in 10 LGBTQ adults.

The report concludes that equality “on the books” does not always translate into equality in lived experience, an issue that becomes more visible when residents must interact with government systems during disaster recovery.

Health Disparities and Barriers to Care

The health data reveal stark disparities:

• Depression symptoms are twice as common among LGBTQ adults (21%) compared to non-LGBTQ adults (10%).
• 13% report having attempted suicide in their lifetime.
• 37% have experienced intimate partner violence.
• 32% report difficulty accessing needed medical care.

Among those living below 200% of the federal poverty level, mental health challenges and barriers to care are even more pronounced.

Nearly half of LGBTQ adults received mental health care in the past year, yet 26% reported unmet needs, primarily due to cost or difficulty finding affirming providers.

Family, Faith, and Isolation

Many LGBTQ adults lack consistent social support:

• Only 52% are out to all immediate family members.
• 29% live alone, nearly double the rate of non-LGBTQ adults.
• 48% report feeling lonely.

Nearly half of LGBTQ adults involved in religious or spiritual communities are not out in those spaces, and some have avoided services due to fear of poor treatment.

These patterns of isolation can complicate recovery from disasters like the Eaton Fire, when social networks are critical for temporary housing, caregiving, and financial assistance.

Resilience and Civic Engagement

Despite these challenges, 81% of LGBTQ adults agree that Los Angeles County is a good place for LGBTQ people to live. Most feel California and the country have grown more accepting over the past decade.

The report is part of a broader set of studies, including:

• Para Mi Punto de Vista / From My Point of View: Results of the 2023 LA County Trans & Nonbinary Survey
• Hear Us. Support Us. Join Us! Civic Engagement of LGBTQ Angelenos and Recommendations for Local Elected Officials
• We Are LA! What LGBTQ People Contribute to Los Angeles

Together, they highlight both vulnerability and strength.

LGBTQ residents contribute significantly to the county’s cultural identity, arts and entertainment industries, civic life, and economic vitality. Many are actively working with local leaders to build safer, more affordable, and more inclusive communities.

A Call for Inclusive Recovery

As Los Angeles County continues responding to the Eaton Fire and addressing broader housing and economic crises, advocates emphasize the need for disaster recovery strategies that explicitly account for LGBTQ residents, particularly transgender and nonbinary people, LGBTQ adults of color, and those living below 200% of the federal poverty level.

The report’s central message is clear: LGBTQ Angelenos are woven into every neighborhood and sector of the county. Ensuring their safety, economic stability, and equal treatment is not a niche issue, it is fundamental to an equitable recovery for all.

> Download the full report.