PRIDE By the Numbers
As America celebrates Pride Month, I read many articles regarding its inception, history and the progress made to prepare for this blog. What struck me is how little progress has been made.
Popular culture and literature paint scenes of the LGBTQ community as successful, rich and happy. The numbers tell a different story.
- 52% of the LGBTQ population have experienced depression recently
- 1 in 8 of the LGBTQ population have experienced unequal treatment from healthcare staff
- Only 46% of the LGBTQ population have revealed their sexual orientation to their families and are 2x likely to not have health insurance
- Only 43% of the LGBTQ population have revealed their sexual orientation at their place of employment
- 1 in 5 LGBTQ women live in poverty
- <$12,000 is the annual income for 22% of the LGBTQ population
- 29% of the transgender population live in poverty
- 29% of the cis-bisexual female population live in poverty
- LGBTQ youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to commit suicide and are more likely to be homeless
- 27% of the LGBTQ population have experienced food insecurity
- 20% of the LGBTQ population report discrimination when applying for jobs, negotiating pay or being considered for a promotion
- 22% of the LGBTQ population have experienced discrimination when trying to rent or purchase property
- 20% of the youth detained in juvenile facilities identify as LGBTQ
- 95% of LBGTQ youth have reported trouble sleeping and 75%report feeling depressed
- 7% of hate crimes are based on sexual orientation
- 50% of the LGBTQ population will experience sexual violence
- 61% of bisexual women and 44% of lesbians experience rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner
- 80% of the LGBTQ youth report experiencing harassment frequently in school
- Lesbians are less likely to get preventive services for cancer
- Lesbians and bisexual women are more likely to be overweight
- The LGBTQ population has the highest rates for tobacco, alcohol and substance abuse
These statistics from National Today, Williams Institute at UCLA, HealthyPeople.gov, The Center for Law and Social Justice, GLAAD, and PBS paint a stark reality for the LBGTQ community.
United Way of Southwest Alabama works with 46 partner agencies to fight against discrimination, to provide services for those suffering from domestic abuse, to assist youth experiencing bullying, to provide health care to the uninsured, to give food to the food insecure, to offer mental health and substance abuse treatment for people experiencing depression or addiction, and to provide job training for individuals looking to escape dead end jobs.
If you are a member of the LGBTQ community or someone you love or know is and needs any assistance, please have them call United Way of Southwest Alabama’s 2-1-1, so that you or your loved one can find the services they need. No one should have to live in fear, in hunger, in shame, in poverty, or in depression.
By Jill Chenoweth, UWSWA President & CEO
Click here to view the June United Way Facebook Live Broadcast featuring AIDS Alabama South Co-Executive Director Shey Thorn, Prism United Executive Director Corey Harvard, UWSWA Vice President of Resource Development Justine Bixler, UWSWA Vice President of Community Impact Trista Stout-Walker, and UWSWA Marketing Specialist & AFL-CIO Labor Engagement Liaison Leslie Schraeder