State LGBTQ policy environments and the cancer burden in sexual and gender minoritized communities in the United States

Abstract Purpose Our objective was to assess the association between state policies related to sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) and cancer prevalence and survivorship indicators in a sexual and gender minoritized (SGM) population in the United States. Methods Data from the 2017–2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were used to measure cancer diagnosis, physical and mental health, and substance use for SGM adult cancer survivors. A state policy Z ‐score, ranging from most restrictive to most protective state policies related to SOGI, was computed from data available from the Movement Advancement Project. Survey‐weighted logistic regression was used to test the relationship between state policies and cancer‐related outcomes for SGM people. Results More protective state policies were associated with lower odds of a cancer diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio AOR: 0.92; 95% confidence interval CI: 0.87–0.97). Among SGM cancer survivors, increasing protective state policies were associated with lower odds of poor physical health (AOR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.74–0.94), lower odds of difficulty walking or climbing stairs (AOR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.80–1.00), and lower odds of difficulty concentrating or remembering (AOR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.78–0.98). No significant associations were found between state policies and mental health, depression, substance use, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease among SGM cancer survivors. Conclusion SGM people diagnosed with cancer are more likely to live in restrictive policy states, and survivors in those states have worse physical health and cognitive disability. Additional research should investigate potential causal relationships between state policies and SGM cancer outcomes.