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Pride and Pandemic: Vulnerabilities to COVID-19 Among LGBT Adults in California

Kathryn O'Neill, a policy analyst at the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, shared findings from two reports she authored that describe the characteristics of the LGBT community in California with an emphasis on factors which increase vulnerability to the COVID-19 pandemic. The reports, which use data from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research's California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), showed that LGBT adults in the state are significantly at risk for health and economic harm from COVID-19. Among those risks, more than 200,00 LGBT people in California have one or more high-risk medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, heart disease, or HIV; 612,000 were living below 200% of the federal poverty level prior to the pandemic; and 134,000 lack health insurance. LGBT economic risks are related to factors such as poverty level, race/ethnicity, gender identity, housing, food security, and employment status.

Speakers

Kathryn O'Neill

Kathryn O'Neill

Upcoming Events

Thursday, October 15, 2026

Webinar // 12:00 PM — 1:00 PM

California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) Annual Data Release

The mental and physical health effects of the 2025 wildfires. Hate targeting immigrants. Barriers to healthcare. Food insecurity. What do the latest data reveal about the experiences shaping life and health in California, and who was affected most? Join the UCLA CHPR on Thursday, October 15, as we share the 2025 findings from the annual California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).

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Tuesday, November 17, 2026

// 9:00 AM — 4:00 PM

2026 E.R. Brown Symposium — Nourishing the Future: Reimagining Nutrition Security in an Era of Change

Join us on Tuesday, November 17, for the 2026 E.R. Brown Symposium, Nourishing the Future: Reimagining Nutrition Security in an Era of Change, being held in person in Sacramento. With changes in federal nutrition and social service programs, California stands at a crossroads. This event will bring together experts and changemakers to explore how the state can respond to growing challenges and help close gaps in access to nutritious food.

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