Coming of Age as an LGBTQ Southerner: Family, Faith, Education & Health, details the findings of the 2021 Survey of Southern LGBTQ Experiences, a survey of 4,186 LGBTQ people who live in the South. This report covers new data about LGBTQ Southerners’ experiences with family, faith communities, school, and health.
The Report of the 2021 Survey of Southern LGBTQ Experiences is available below. Click here to read the full report.
This report was produced by the Campaign for Southern Equality and Campus Pride.
What’s Inside
- New research and data about the experiences of LGBTQ Southerners as they have come of age. Participants report on their experiences in their home lives, at school, in religious settings, and with regard to healthcare.
- Charts and Tables to help you understand more about participants’ responses.
- Quotes in their own words from folks who took the Survey, illustrating the data in more specific ways.
- Recommendations for how educational institutions and individuals can improve the coming-of-age experiences of LGBTQ Southerners.
Breakout Reports
Breakout: LGBTQ North Carolinians
In this supplemental report, we look at the responses of Survey-takers who live in North Carolina. The report touches on LGBTQ North Carolinians’ behaviors, beliefs, and experiences with coming out, education, healthcare, efforts to change sexual orientation or gender identity, and more. This supplement was co-authored by Dr. Austin Johnson and Dr. Chase Harless.
Breakout: LGBTQ Tennesseans
In this 37-page supplemental report, we look at the responses of Survey-takers who live in Tennessee. The report touches on LGBTQ Tennesseans’ behaviors, beliefs, and experiences with coming out, education, healthcare, efforts to change sexual orientation or gender identity, and more. It takes a particular look at the impact of Tennessee’s hostile anti-LGBTQ political climate and features a forward from the Executive Director of the Tennessee Equality Project. This supplement was co-authored by Dr. Austin Johnson and Emma Chinn.
Breakout: LGBTQ in Western North Carolina
In this supplemental report, we look at the responses of Survey-takers who live in 18 counties in Western North Carolina. The report touches on respondents’ behaviors, beliefs, and experiences with coming out, education, healthcare, efforts to change sexual orientation or gender identity, and more. This supplement was co-authored by Dr. Austin Johnson and Dr. Chase Harless.
Breakout: Political Engagement Among LGBTQ Southerners
In this supplemental report, we examine Survey respondents’ answers to questions related to political engagement and participation. The report examines respondents’ behaviors and beliefs on voter registration, political efficacy, political hostility and the impact of that political climate, awareness of anti-LGBTQ legislative attacks, and participation beyond the ballot box.
Report Sponsors
Report Details
Project Leadership
Austin H. Johnson, Ph.D. • Co-Principal Investigator • Director, Southern Equality
Research & Policy Center, Campaign for Southern Equality • Assistant Professor of Sociology, Kenyon College
Abigail Bowen, Ph.D. • Co-Principal Investigator
• Data Analyst, Southern Equality Research & Policy Center, Campaign for Southern Equality
Chase Harless, MSW • Program Manager, Southern Equality Research & Policy Center, Campaign for Southern Equality
Shane Windemeyer • Executive Director, Campus Pride
Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara • Executive Director, Campaign for Southern Equality
Liz Williams • Cover Design • Director of Southern Equality Studios, Campaign for Southern Equality
Adam Polaski • Layout • Communications Director, Campaign for Southern Equality
Survey Ambassadors
Micaela Zamora • Kasey Mayfield • Jennifer Gallienne • Cookie Woolner • Robin G. White • Jaymeson Rivers • M.A. Rochon
Recommended Citation
Johnson, A.H., Bowen, A., Shuler, A. Harless, C. (2022). “Coming of Age as an LGBTQ Southerner: Family, Faith, Education & Health.” Campaign for Southern Equality: Asheville, NC.
Community Partners
ACLU of Mississippi • Ban Conversion Therapy Kentucky • CenterLink • Equality Florida • Georgia Equality • GLAAD • GLSEN Research Institute • Mississippi Rising Coalition • Movement Advancement Project • National Center for Lesbian Rights • Prism United • Tennessee Equality Project • Southern Fried Queer Pride • West Virginia Gay & Lesbian Center • Women’s Rights & Empowerment Network (WREN) • Youth OUTRight WNC, Inc.
About the Southern Equality Research & Policy Center
A new project of CSE, the Southern Equality Research and Policy Center (SERPC) conducts independent research and develops interventions to promote the legal and lived equality of LGBTQ Southerners. Through our community-based research, we promote an increased understanding of LGBTQ life in the South that is fact-based and can inform policies and strategies to promote the health, equity, and well-being of LGBTQ people in the region.
Previous Campaign for Southern Equality Research
2019 Southern LGBTQ Health Survey
The 2019 Southern LGBTQ Health Survey includes responses from more than 5,600 Southern LGBTQ people, one of the largest samples ever of LGBTQ Southerners talking specifically about their health. The Survey report covers new data about LGBTQ Southerners’ physical and mental health; overall quality of care; experiences with depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and self-harming behaviors; and experiences with HIV.
2018 Southern Trans Health Focus Group Project
“The Report of the 2018 Southern Trans Health Focus Group Project,” released in December 2018, documents the findings of a community-based research project through which diverse transgender Southerners across six states shared in-depth accounts of their experiences related to health issues and accessing health care.
Get in Touch!
Contact the Southern Equality Research & Policy Center using the form below – whether you’re a reporter looking for comment or information about this report, a researcher looking for full data tables from the Survey, or anyone looking to contact the report authors, survey ambassadors, or community partners.
