​Summary: Authors examined the health disparities of older adults (age 50 and older) in California at the intersection of sexual identity and Latinx ethnicity, by comparing the prevalence of health outcomes of four groups: LGB (lesbian, gay, and bisexual) Latinx, straight Latinx, LGB non-Latinx, and straight non-Latinx older adults.

Data were from the 2015–2016 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). Authors compared LGB and straight people within the same ethnic groups and Latinx and non-Latinx people within the same sexual identity groups to understand the intersectional effect of Latinx ethnicity and LGB identity.

Findings: Tests by sexual identity showed that among Latinx older adults, more LGB than non-LGB people experienced serious psychological distress. Among non-Latinx older adults, there were no health disparities due to sexual identity. Tests by Latinx ethnicity showed that among LGB older adults, more Latinx than non-Latinx people were obese. Among straight people, more Latinx than non-Latinx older people had poor health, diabetes, and obesity.

The compounded effect of Latinx and LGB identity on psychological distress is notable. However, most health disparities were among straight older adults, between Latinx and non-Latinx people, indicating that Latinx, not sexual identity, nor their intersection, was most influential. Given the importance of sociodemographic factors on health outcomes, programs targeting LGB older adults should take a comprehensive approach to understand their experiences as ethnic minorities.

Note: This is article was corrected Dec. 26, 2020.​

Read the Publication:

• Journal Article: Health Disparities of Older Adults in California: The Role of Sexual Identity and Latinx Ethnicity