County Launches First-Ever LGBTQ+ Community Survey for ‘Pride Month’

Montgomery County is continuing its celebration of June as “Pride Month” with the release of its first-ever survey of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQ+) residents. The survey will collect anonymous information about health and wellness, access to resources and services, experiences of discrimination and other aspects of residents’ life in the community. The deadline to complete the survey is Friday, July 15.

The survey, which was drafted in collaboration with the County’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Board and launched by the Office of Community Partnerships, aims to gather data that will guide the future work of the County’s LGBTQ+ liaison and LGBTQ+ Advisory Board.

The survey can be found on the Office of Community Partnerships website.

"Montgomery County has made a commitment to ensuring that the LGBTQ+ community feels safe and welcome," said County Executive Marc Elrich. “This survey will provide important data to help us keep that commitment. Our LGBTQ+ community contributes to our history, economic vitality and culture, building a brighter future for all."

The survey’s findings will be shared with County departments and presented back to the community for feedback and dialogue.

“We are hopeful that the results from this survey will give us a clearer understanding of the experiences and needs of Montgomery County’s diverse LGBTQ+ communities,” said Amena Johnson, the County’s LGBTQ+ liaison. “We designed the survey to elicit actionable responses. We don’t plan to sit on this data. We plan to use it to create a safer and more affirming Montgomery County for the LGBTQ+ community.”

The survey is being distributed electronically. Residents and community organizations are invited to share the survey links with their networks. Respondents who complete the survey, which takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete, will have a chance to win an incentive.

The County’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Group will attend the “Pride in the Plaza Festival” on Sunday, June 26, in Downtown Silver Spring to promote and distribute the survey. More information on the advisory group can be found on the Office of Community Partnerships website.

Pride in the Plaza will take place from noon-8 p.m. on June 26 at Veterans Plaza, which is located at 1 Veterans Place in Silver Spring. More information on this and other County-sponsored Pride events can be found at PrideInthePlaza.com.

For questions about the survey, contact Dr. Johnson at amena.johnson@montgomerycountymd.gov.