Several hundred people gathered at the Butler Institute of American Art’s Beecher Court atrium on May 28 to celebrate the release of the Greater Mahoning Valley LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment’s findings.
The survey includes responses from 463 people in Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana counties and was conducted via a partnership between Kent State University, the Center for Community Solutions and Equality Ohio.
“Research is resistance. Research tells us the truth,” said Equality Ohio CEO and executive director Dwayne Steward. “This needs assessment provides evidence we need to advocate for change.”
“Research gives us the tools to advocate based on evidence, grounded in academic integrity and human compassion.” Steward added. “But research without action is not enough. Our community is exhausted by being researched and then not supported.”
Regional LGBTQ+ surveys
Public health researcher Andrew Snyder launched the Northeast Ohio LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment initiative in 2022.
The Greater Akron LGBTQ+ Needs Assessment was the first in a series of three regional surveys designed to gauge the needs and experiences of LGBTQ+ people across the state, including responses from LGBTQ+ people in Summit, Stark, Portage or Medina counties who “[rely] on Akron for healthcare, social services, employment, education, religion or spirituality, recreation, community resources or support to satisfy their needs.”
At the time, Snyder called the assessment a “unique opportunity to positively impact the health outcomes of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) residents in the Greater Akron area.”
In 2024, Snyder launched a second survey: The Greater Cleveland LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment. The survey included more than 2,000 responses from people living in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Lorain counties split into seven “domains” including”:
- Physical Health and Wellness
- Religion and Spirituality
- Education and Literacy
- Housing, Food, and Nutrition
- Business, Employment and Commerce
- Safety and Law Enforcement
- Recreation and Leisure
Results from the three assessments are available via an interactive dashboard, which aggregates data from 2519 individual survey responses, “offering a nuanced understanding of the self-reported health status and socio-demographic characteristics of the LGBTQ+ community members across Northeast Ohio.”
Advocating for data
A handful of other speakers from LGBTQ+ communities across the Mahoning Valley also addressed the crowd, including Jerry Wolfe, Nikki Crawford, Westside Bowl owner and LGBTQ+ ally Nathan Offerdahl and Equality Ohio field organizer Leandrah Alexis.
Alexis emphasized the importance of utilizing the survey’s results to create material change for LGBTQ+ Ohioans.
Elected officials, community organizations, healthcare providers, grant funders, researchers and scholars can use the data to help advocate for inclusive policies, funding priorities and evidence-based research that cater to the overall needs of LGBTQ+ Ohioans.
“The data shared throughout this report represents real people, our neighbors, family members, coworkers, and friends, who took time to share their experiences with honesty and courage,” the report reads. “These insights offer both a clear picture of where gaps remain and a hopeful vision of what is possible when communities invest in inclusion and care.”
“No one can define the needs of this community better than this community.” Snyder told attendees. “And this assessment has shown that LGBTQ+ people in the Mahoning Valley deserve so much better.” 🔥
Ignite Action
- To view the full Greater Mahoning Valley LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment report, click here.
- To learn more about the Northeast Ohio LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment initiatives, click here.
- To access an interactive dashboard including the results of all three regional surveys, click here.
- If you are a young LGBTQ+ person in crisis, please contact the Trevor Project: 866-4-U-Trevor.
- If you are an transgender adult in need of immediate help, contact the National Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
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