The PRIDE Study

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The PRIDE Study

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The PRIDE Study is the first large-scale, long-term national health study of people who identify as LGBTQ.

The PRIDE Study is the first longitudinal health study of people who identify as a sexual or gender minority. The PRIDE Study will include (i) a longitudinal study of all participants with an electronic survey every 1-3 years, and (ii) multiple studies, some of which only a subset of participants (e.g., certain age groups, geographic locations) may be eligible. Help close health disparities that affect our LGBTQI communities!

13/10/2026

🚨 New Study Alert! 🚨 Check out the latest led by Annesa Flentje, PhD: How the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election impacted LGBTQIA+ mental health

➡️Read more at https://pridestudy.org/research/

Alt Text:
Orange, red, and pink background. Boxes of various sizes containing text answering various questions. Illustrations of LGBTQIA+ people and couples.

Title with citation: How the Places Where LGBTQIA+ People Live Shape Their Health
Flentje et al., American Journal of Public Health [2026]

What did we do?
We examined changes in LGBTQIA+ mental
health symptoms since the 2024 presidential election. We were looking to see how this election may have impacted the following mental health symptoms:
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Trauma

What did we learn?
For participants who did not have significant mental health symptoms prior to the election, their symptoms worsened after the election.
For participants who had significant mental health symptoms prior to the election, symptoms were slightly better after the election. Symptoms in this group were still reflective of depression, anxiety, and trauma after the election.
Transgender and gender diverse people without significant mental health symptoms prior to the election experienced a greater worsening of anxiety and trauma symptoms.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION AT:
https://pridestudy.org/RESEARCH

19/09/2026

🚨 New Study Alert! 🚨 Check out the latest led by Nguyen K. Tran, PhD, MPH: How the Places Where LGBTQIA+ People Live Shape Their Health

➡️Read more at https://pridestudy.org/research/

Alt Text:
Background with different shades of green. Boxes of various sizes containing text answering various questions. Illustrations of LGBTQIA+ people and houses/buildings in a neighborhoods.

Title with citation: How the Places Where LGBTQIA+ People Live Shape Their Health
Tran et al., AJE Advances: Research in Epidemiology [2026]

What did we do?
We studied two main conditions of the places where LGBTQIA+ people live and how they are related to their physical and mental health among 3,790 participants in 786 U.S. counties:
-Disorder: the physical problems (for example, graffiti, loud noise, vandalism) and safety concerns of a neighborhood.
-Social cohesion: the level of trust, shared values, and strong relationships among people who live in the same area.

What did we learn?
-LGBTQIA+ people who were living in counties with more disorder and less social cohesion had poorer physical and mental health.
-Those who saw greater disorder in the areas around their homes reported greater feelings of stress.
-LGBTQIA+ people who felt more connected to their neighbors and had a stronger sense of trust in their community reported less depression, less feelings of stress, and better physical health.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION AT:
https://pridestudy.org/RESEARCH

18/08/2026

🚨 New Study Alert! 🚨 Check out the latest led by Diana Tordoff, PhD, MPH: Transmasculine People's Experiences of Gynecological Care While on Testosterone

Read more at https://pridestudy.org/research/

Alt:
Pink, yellow, and blue background. Boxes of various sizes containing text answering various questions. Illustrations of LGBTQIA+ people.

Title with citation:
Transmasculine People's Experiences of Gynecological Care While on Testosterone
Tordoff et al., Social Science & Medicine [ 2026]

What did we do?
We wanted to understand how testosterone affects gynecological health from the perspective of people who use it, and how it shapes their experiences getting care. We conducted interviews with 28 transmasculine adults from across the US who had been using testosterone for at least a year.

What did we learn?
Topics most important to participants:
• pelvic pain
• ge***al atrophy (thinning and dryness of ge***al tissue)
• repeat urinary tract and yeast infections

We found 6 connected patterns:
1. Erasure (healthcare systems, research, and providers failed to recognize trans people)
2. Authority of knowledge (providers trusted test results over symptoms and patients' knowledge about their own bodies)
3. Navigating uncertainty (patient and provider confusion about whether symptoms were caused by testosterone)
4. Prolonged and fragmented care (patients sent through repeated referrals and testing, without getting a diagnosis)
5. Cumulative exposure (the toll of these experiences built up over time)
6. Resistance and agency (participants proactively used different approaches to try to get good care)

Learn more about this publication at pridestudy.org/research

29/07/2026

🚨 New Study Alert! 🚨 Check out the latest led by Laura Jans: LGBTQIA+ People's Perspectives on the Moral Panic Driving Anti-LGBTQIA+ U.S. Policies

Read more at https://pridestudy.org/research/

Alt:
Blue and orange background. Boxes of various sizes containing text answering various questions. Illustrations of LGBTQIA+ people.

Title with citation:
LGBTQIA+ People's Perspectives on the Moral Panic Driving Anti-LGBTQIA+ U.S. Policies
Jans et al., Sexuality Research and Social Policy [ 2026]

What did we do?
We interviewed 61 LGBTOIA+ adults in the U.S. about how the recent surge in anti-LGBTQIA+ policies has impacted their lives.

What did we learn?
Many participants described anti-LGBTOIA+ policies as part of a moral panic. Moral panic: when a group of people have a negative reaction to something they fear threatens their values and they respond by blaming a specific group.
1. Many participants felt that anti-LGBTQIA+ policies do not reflect the views of their communities, instead describing their neighbors as neutral towards LGBTOIA+ rights and more focused on other issues.
2. Some described how the media and people with power add to the "moral panic" by making up problems, scapegoating LGBTQIA+ people, and creating hostility.
3. Participants shared ideas on the true reasons for anti-LGBTQIA+ policies (e.g., distracting voters from other problems and trying to take away civil rights.)

Learn more about this publication at pridestudy.org/research

24/07/2026

🚨 New Study Alert! 🚨 Check out the latest led by Nicole Rosendale, MD: Heart Health Across Sexual Orientations

Read more at https://pridestudy.org/research/

Alt:
Blue and tan background. Boxes of various sizes containing text answering various questions. Illustrations of hearts and LGBTQIA+ people.

Title with citation:
Heart Health Across Sexual Orientations
Rosendale et al., JAHA: Journal of the American Heart Association [2026]

What did we do?
4,964 participants of different sexual orientations filled out the Heart Health Survey, which used the American Heart Association Life's Essential 8 score to describe heart health.

Life's Essential 8
Each of these components is scored from 0 to 100. Higher numbers indicate healthier values.
1. blood sugar
2. blood pressure
3. body mass index
4. diet quality
5. cholesterol levels
6. ni****ne exposure
7. physical activity
8. sleep duration

What did we learn?
Heart health across different sexual orientations fell into the moderate range.
The average overall Life's Essential 8 score was highest for asexual adults (74.4) and lowest for those who identified as another sexual orientation (68.2).
Diet scores were low overall but were least favorable among asexual and bisexual/pansexual participants.
Bisexual/pansexual participants also had a higher prevalence of unfavorable ni****ne scores compared with the other groups.
Across all groups, participants tended to have favorable physical activity and blood sugar scores.

Learn more about this publication at pridestudy.org/research

23/07/2026

🚨 New Study Alert! 🚨 Check out the latest led by Nicole Rosendale, MD: Heart Health Across Gender Identities

Read more at https://pridestudy.org/research/

Alt:
Yellow and green background. Boxes of various sizes containing text answering various questions. Illustrations of hearts and LGBTQIA+ people.

Title with citation:
Heart Health Across Gender Identities
Rosendale et al., JAHA: Journal of the American Heart Association [2026]

What did we do?

Participants filled out the Heart Health Survey, which used the American Heart Association Life's Essential 8 score to describe heart health.
Life's Essential 8:
1. blood sugar
2. blood pressure
3. body mass index
4. diet quality
5. cholesterol levels
6. ni****ne exposure
7. physical activity
8. sleep duration

What did we learn?

Average overall Life's Essential 8 scores across different genders (higher numbers indicate better overall heart health). Each score ranges from 0 to 100:
• cisgender men: 71.4
• cisgender women: 71.6
• gender-expansive people assigned female at birth: 72.9
• gender-expansive people assigned male at birth: 72.2
• transgender men: 71.6
• transgender women: 70.3

These ranges are moderate and are similar to scores reported by another study in the general U.S. population. The average score in transgender and gender-expansive people currently taking gender-affirming hormone therapy was the same as those who were not.

Learn more about this publication at pridestudy.org/research

01/07/2026

🚨 New Study Alert! 🚨 Check out the latest led by Ava Snow: The Sociocultural Environment and the Mental Health of Sexual and Gender Minority Parents

Read more at https://pridestudy.org/research/

Alt:
Yellow, green, and pink background. Boxes of various sizes containing text answering various questions. Illustrations of LGBTQIA+ families and people.

Title with citation:
The Sociocultural Environment and the Mental Health of Sexual and Gender Minority Parents
Snow et al., Annals of Epidemiology [ 2026]

What did we do?
We studied the relationship between symptoms of depression and anxiety in LGBTOIA+ parents and the social and cultural factors in their lives.

What did we learn?
There were many factors associated with depression and anxiety symptoms in LGBTOIA+ parents.

Some factors associated with more mental health symptoms:
Individual-level factors:
• Having a lower income.
• People in their life not knowing they are LGBTOIA+.
Interpersonal-level factors:
• Being socially isolated.
• Being harassed in public.
• Being physically attacked.
Community-level factors:
• Living in a community that is not accepting or safe for LGBTOIA+ people.

Some factors associated with fewer mental health symptoms:
Individual-level factors:
• People in their life knowing they are LGBTOIA+.
Interpersonal-level factors:
• Feeling welcome or safe in LGBTQIA+ spaces.
• Having emotional support.
• Being in a relationship or relationships.
Community-level factors:
• Having an LGBTOIA+ space where they feel safe.

Learn more about this publication at pridestudy.org/research

30/06/2026

🚨 New Study Alert! 🚨 Check out the latest led by Ada Zhang, MD, MPH: How Social Determinants of Health Affect Health Care Access for LGBTOIA+ Parents

Read more at https://pridestudy.org/research/

Alt:
Purple background. Boxes of various sizes containing text answering various questions. Illustrations of LGBTQIA+ families and LGBTQIA+ flags.

Title with citation:
How Social Determinants of Health Affect Health Care Access for LGBTOIA+ Parents
Zhang et al., Scientific Reports [ 2026]

What did we do?
We looked at data from 1,100 participants to see how different social determinants of health* affect LGBTQIA+ parents when they seek out health care for themselves. *Social determinants of health are all the environmental conditions that affect people's lives and

What did we learn?
LGBTQIA+ parents who were:
• less socially isolated,
• who had at least one LGBTOIA+ space in which they felt safe, and
• who less often hid their LGBTOIA+ identity from health care providers
were less likely to report health care avoidance due to fear of disrespect or mistreatment one year later.
LGBTOIA+ parents who were less socially isolated were less likely to report delayed health care access for any reason one year later.

Learn more about this publication at pridestudy.org/research

26/06/2026

🥳 🙌 🎊 This national Pride Month, we are proud to launch the 2026 Annual Questionnaire and reaching our 10th year of data collection – thanks to participants like you! Throughout the year we receive valuable input from participants and our Participant Advisory Committee about the Annual Questionnaire. We thoughtfully review every single piece of feedback we receive, as one of The PRIDE Study’s guiding principles is “participants know best.” These are some of the topics in the 2026 Annual Questionnaire that your feedback has helped to shape.

Image text:
Ways participants influenced the 2026 Annual Questionnaire
We added the following sets of questions and modified existing questions in these topic areas:
1. Your romantic orientation
2. How you feel about your local community and neighborhood
3. How you feel about laws passed by the federal government
4. How you feel about local law enforcement
5. Experiences relating to your government-issued ID documents
6. GLP-1 Agonists (medications typically taken to treat diabetes or for weight loss)
7. Your experiences in the military
8. Your positive childhood experiences
9. Your experiences with unpaid household work
10. Your experiences with food allergies
11. Your involvement in art activities
12. Affirming “third spaces” and people that you find empowering/uplifting

22/06/2026

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🎉 We had a great time presenting at the Avenidas Rainbow Collective Pride event this weekend to celebrate LGBTQIA+ older adults! Shout out to the special guests who visited our table: Andy (Avenidas), who put the whole event together, and Sophie (The Q Corner), who shared her powerful story.

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