Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Workplace Issues
Population
Determining the size of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender population in the U.S. is, at best, difficult, and at worst, impossible, due to the indirect nature of the data collection. For example, Census 2000 asked about same-sex co-habitation, which was then used to estimate the number of lesbian or gay couples. Those not cohabitating with their partners or single lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals were thus not counted, a significant omission since the Urban Institute estimates that only 1/4 of gay men and 2/5 of lesbians are part of a couple at any given time.1
The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population in the United States is estimated between 13 million and 17 million. Estimates range from 3-10% of the population, but Witeck-Combs estimates (based on multiple survey results) that approximately 6.5% of the population is LGBT. Market and social science researches admit that these numbers are estimates of the LGBT population as there is no way to determine a true count given the challenges of relying on self-identification to extrapolate a number.2
Workplace
- There are 11 openly gay presidents of colleges in the U.S.3
Benefits
- 57% of Fortune 500 companies offer domestic partner benefits.4
- At least 52 major employers reported to the HRC that they offer transgender inclusive health benefits. 4
- 35% of Fortune 500 companies have protection policies based on gender identity; 61% of the Fortune 100 have protection policies based on gender identity.4
- 85% of Fortune 500 companies have non-discrimination policies based on sexual orientation; 94% of the Fortune 100 have non-discrimination sexual orientation policies.4
Discrimination
- Almost two-fifths (39%) lesbian and gay adults in America's workplaces report facing some form of hostility or harassment on the job. 11% experience very frequent or frequent harassment or discrimination.5
- 19% LGBT employees reported barriers in promotion due to their sexual orientation/gender identity.5
- Almost one in ten lesbian and gay adults state they were fired or dismissed unfairly from a previous job or pressured to quit a job because of their sexual orientation.6
- A small study of 155 transgender participants by the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the Transgender Law Center found that nearly 1 in 2 transgender people has experienced employment discrimination.7
- In the United States, twenty states and the District of Columbia prohibit discrimination based on one's sexual orientation. Of those states, thirteen have laws and the District of Columbia prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity/expression.8
Buying Power
- The buying power of the LGBT community in the U.S. in 2009 is estimated to be $759 billion.9
- 58% of LGBT people would switch brands to companies that market directly to LGBT individuals. 10
- 25% of LGBT adults have changed brands to a competing company that is LGBT-friendly.10
Sources
1 The Urban Institute, "Gay and Lesbian Demographics."
2 DiversityInc., "Finally the Truth: How Many Gay Americans Are There and What Will They Buy?" (2004).
3 Paul Fain, The Chronicle of Higher Education, "Openly Gay Presidents: 11 and Counting" (September 7, 2007).
4 Human Rights Campaign Foundation, The State of the Workplace for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Americans 2007-2008 (2009).
5 Lambda Legal & Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP, "2005 Workplace Fairness Survey" (2005).
6 Survey by Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc. and Out & Equal Workplace Advocates (September 12, 2002).
7 Shannon Minter and Christopher Daley, Transgender Law Center, "Trans Realities: A Legal Needs Assessment of San Francisco's Transgender Communities" (2003).
8 The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, "State Nondiscrimination Laws in the U.S" (July 31, 2008).
9 Human Rights Campaign, Buying for Equality 2009 (2009)
10 Human Rights Campaign,Buying for equality 2008(2007).
UPDATED May 20, 2009
