By Staff Writer

162,000 LGB and 9,000 transgender elderly people in California at high risk for COVID-19 illness, according to a recent UCLA study.

An estimated 162,300 LGB and 9,000 transgender people age 65 and older live in California and are at high risk for serious illness from COVID-19, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law.

The California Department of Public Health has associated high risk with people age 65 and older and those with compromised immune systems or serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease. Using data from the California Health Interview Survey, researchers found that 53,100 LGB people and 3,000 transgender people in California age 65 and older have fair or poor health.

“Social and economic vulnerabilities can also contribute to an increased risk of serious illness related to COVID-19,” said lead author Ilan H. Meyer, Distinguished Senior Scholar of Public Policy at the Williams Institute. “In addition to age and health, California’s public health measures should consider these factors, as many elderly LGB and transgender people in the state live alone and in poverty and may need special assistance.”

KEY FINDINGS