Missouri: Survey Seeks Input on Health of Gays and Lesbians

A recent survey conducted by the Kansas City Health Department and the Lesbian and Gay Community Center of Greater Kansas City assessed the health and habits of more than 1,000 gays, lesbians and bisexuals. Although most participants considered themselves healthy, the study revealed unhealthy practices like smoking, unprotected sex and missed medical tests.

More than 95 percent of participants considered themselves to be in good to excellent health. More than 40 percent got at least 30 minutes of exercise several days a week. And while 24 percent were obese, that was below the overall adult obesity level of 34 percent in Kansas City.

Most gays and lesbians were "out" to family and friends and many were in faithful, long-term relationships. Sixty-five percent of lesbians, 51 percent of gay men and 41 percent of bisexuals were in relationships.

Many lesbians did not get regular mammograms, although research suggests they may be at increased risk of breast cancer. Some sexually active men did not use condoms consistently, and 9 percent of gay men said they had HIV. But 38.4 percent of study participants were smokers -- significantly higher than the national adult smoking rate of 23.1 percent. About 34 percent of gays and 24 percent of lesbians reported they drank to get drunk at least once a month. About one-fifth said they experienced stress or depression almost always or very often.

Investigators distributed the survey from May to July 2003 at events that attract the gay community, such as the Heartland Pride Festival and AIDS Walk. A total of 1,143 people from Jackson, Clay, Platte and Cass counties in Missouri and Johnson, Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties in Kansas completed the survey.

"We didn't try to be statistically representative," said Gerald Hoff, a Health Department epidemiologist who helped analyze the data and compile the report. "But the survey accomplished its main objective: to create some baseline data."

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