Community Needs Assessment Results Spotlight

This month we’re unveiling a new monthly MNQT newsletter section to highlight key findings and insights from the 2025 Minnesota LGBTQIA2S+ Community Needs Surveys. While comprehensive reports and other assessment products will continue to be released over time, this space will provide brief snapshots of findings, trends, and insights from the data along the way. This survey is the most comprehensive examination of LGBTQIA2S+ experiences and needs conducted in Minnesota to date. MNQT extends our deepest gratitude to every person who entrusted us with their experiences as well as the hundreds of organizations, advocates, and leaders that collaborated with us to move this historic project forward.

A brief note on generalizing findings: The Community Needs Surveys used a convenience sample of LGBTQIA2S+ adults and parents/caregivers of LGBTQIA2S+ youth in Minnesota who chose to participate. Because participation was voluntary and not based on random selection, the survey findings are not statistically representative of Minnesota’s broader LGBTQIA2S+ population and cannot be generalized to all LGBTQIA2S+ Minnesotans. Even so, the results provide valuable insight into participant experiences and can help identify patterns, areas for further exploration, and priorities for future research, policy discussions, and community action.

Adult Survey Respondents:

Our survey of LGBTQIA2S+ adults had 6,922 valid responses. This is an estimated 1.1% of Minnesota’s LGBTQIA2S+ community. Compared to other states who have surveyed the LGBTQIA2S+ community, our survey not only had the highest total number of responses, but the largest estimated percentage of a state’s LGBTQIA2S+ community.

• 77% of our responses came from individuals residing in the 7-county metro area, while 22% came from individuals residing in Greater MN.

Adult Survey Respondents Moving to Minnesota:

As part of our survey, we asked respondents whether they had moved to Minnesota and, if so, what factors influenced their decision to relocate. Given the political climate and recent rise in anti-LGBTQIA2S+ legislation across the country, we were particularly interested in folks who chose to move here in the three years preceding the survey.

• 735 survey respondents moved to Minnesota in the last three years. This is 10.6% of the total survey sample.
• At the time of the survey, 473 individuals (6.8%) moved here 1-3 years ago, while 262 (3.8%) moved here less than one year ago.

The most common reason people moved to Minnesota was legal protections for the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

• 65% of new Minnesotans selected this option and it is the only option that was selected by a majority of new Minnesotans.
• The second most common reason individuals moved to Minnesota was for a job with 44% selecting this option.
• The next most common reasons were: to avoid discrimination in housing, employment, education, or healthcare (37%); queer community connections (36%); and access to gender affirming care (36%).

Even within this sample of new Minnesotans, we can see how the shifting political climate has impacted their decisions to move to Minnesota. Looking only at individuals who moved to Minnesota in the year prior to the survey, we see that a lower percentage of respondents moved here for a job, and a higher percentage moved here for legal protections.

• The most common reasons for moving here in the last year were: legal protections for the LGBTQIA2S+ community (73%); to avoid discrimination in housing, employment, education, or healthcare (49%); access to gender affirming healthcare (45%); and a job (41%).

Parent/Caregiver Survey Respondents:

We also surveyed parents/caregivers of LGBTQIA2S+ youth, which received a total of 385 valid responses.

• 71% of our responses came from individuals who live in the 7-county metro area, while 27% came from individuals who live in Greater MN.

Parent/Caregiver with Youth Moving to Minnesota:

As with the adult survey, we asked parents and caregivers whether they had moved to Minnesota and, if so, what factors influenced their decision to relocate. We were similarly interested in families who had chosen to move to Minnesota within the three years preceding the survey, particularly given recent increases in anti-LGBTQIA2S+ legislation and policy activity targeting youth in sports and gender-affirming care across the country.

• 22 survey respondents indicated that their child moved to Minnesota in the last three years. This is 5.7% of our total survey sample.
• At the time of the survey, 9 individuals (2.3% of the survey sample) moved here less than one year ago while 13 individuals (3.4% of the survey sample) moved here 1-3 years ago.

Legal protections for the LGBTQIA2S+ community were by far the most common reason parents had for moving to Minnesota.

• 21 parents (95% of new Minnesotans) selected this option.
• The next most common reasons were access to gender affirming care (13 parents) and to avoid discrimination in housing, employment, education, or healthcare (13 parents).
• Only seven parents indicated they moved to Minnesota for a job.

These findings are an important reminder that policy decisions have real impacts on where people feel safe, supported, and are able to build their lives. As more LGBTQIA2S+ people choose to make Minnesota home, we must continue the work of ensuring our state remains a welcoming and safe place for all. We’ll be back in your inbox in June for more findings and insights.