Asian LGBT Non-Citizen Immigrants in California (Williams Institute)
Summary: This study used 2015–2021 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) data to examine the demographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics of Asian non-citizen LGBT immigrants. Authors focused on noncitizens, including both those who are authorized to be in the United States and those who are unauthorized, because they are a group at heightened vulnerability to low socioeconomic status and poor health. Information about U.S.-born Asian LGBT people and Asian non-LGBT noncitizens is presented to identify similarities and differences in the needs of these overlapping communities.
Findings: Overall, Asian LGBT noncitizens were younger and less likely to be married or raising children than their non-LGBT counterparts. However, they reported higher levels of English proficiency. While most Asian LGBT noncitizens in California are in the workforce, almost a third (31%) of them live at less than 200% of the federal poverty level. Half of those with low incomes are food insecure, though relatively few (18%) are enrolled in the CalFresh food stamp benefits program. More than half (52%) speak one or more Asian languages at home, including Cantonese, Tagalog, Korean, and Vietnamese, in addition to English. Asian LGBT noncitizens are five times more likely to face psychological distress than their non-LGBT peers (27% vs 5%, respectively), yet over a third (39%) of them do not have a usual source of health care.
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