Explore Survey Topics

Our first-of-its-kind survey makes the lives and experiences of LGBTQ+ people visible in the national discussion on policing in the United States.

We asked a range of questions about LGBTQ+ people and policing, including:

  • What happens in LGBTQ-police encounters?
  • How do LGBTQ+ people perceive police?
  • How do LGBTQ+ people feel about interacting with police?
  • What affects LGBTQ+ people’s willingness to seek help from the police when they are victims of crime?
  • What kinds of police reforms do LGBTQ+ people support?

50.5% of LGBTQ+ people worry about being the victim of a hate crime, at least occasionally

compared with 29.6% of non-LGBTQ+ people

Survey Topic:

Worry About Crime and Safety

Explore how much individuals think about safety, crime, and worry about being the victim of crime.

LGBTQ+ People

45%

Non-LGBTQ+ People

36%

45% of LGBTQ+ people report contact with the police in the last year

Survey Topic:

Contact with Police

The experiences and frequency of interactions with the police, including mistreatment and beliefs about police misconduct.

56.6% of LGBTQ+ people found their most recent encounter with the police to be unfair

compared with 42% of non-LGBTQ+ people

Survey Topic:

Satisfaction with Police Encounters

Feelings of fairness and justice in people’s interactions with the police.

LGBTQ+ People

58.6%

Non-LGBTQ+ People

37.1%

58.6% of LGBTQ+ people believe the police do not do a good job responding to local issues

Survey Topic:

Trust and Legitimacy

Questions relating to overarching opinions on the legal system, government, and police.

21% of LGBTQ+ people have been the victim of a crime in the last 12 months

compared with 14.5% of non-LGBTQ+ people

Survey Topic:

Victimization and Engagement with Police

Explore whether individuals report crime victimization and their willingness to interact with the police.

LGBTQ+ People

24.7%

Non-LGBTQ+ People

11.8%

24.7% of LGBTQ+ people believe their neighborhood is not well-served by the police

Survey Topic:

Community Involvement

Beliefs about how the police serve respondents’ neighborhoods and communities.

52.5% of LGBTQ+ people support reallocating funding for police to other municipal government programs

compared with 22.9% of non-LGBTQ+ people

Survey Topic:

Support for Police Reform

Questions about individuals’ levels of support for various social movements and proposals for reform.