Workplace Issues

The economic challenges facing LGBT women when it comes to finding a job are often the direct result of discrimination. Not only do they face lower wages in compairson to their LGBTQ male counterparts, but they're also at risk for more frequent harassment. A June 2020 article from HerMoney.com "By The Numbers Being LGBTQ+ in America" that analyzes the in-depth report on the financial penalty for LGBTQ+ women in America, done in 2015 by the Center for American Progress (CAP) co-authored by Movement Advancement Project (MAP) reports that "LGBT women of color face higher rates of workplace discrimination due to multiple identities (race, gender/gender identity, sexual orientation). The rate of discrimination for Asian and Pacific Islander LGBT people is reported between 75%-82%; four in 10 (42%) of Black LGBT people have experienced employment discrimination." A Glassdoor Study done by Harris Poll in 2019 indicates that 3 in 5 employed (57%) LGBTQ+ Americans " say they feel they are fully “out” at work." While 43% of LGBTQ+ employees say they feel they are not fully “out” at work."

For many years, members of the LGBTQ+ community have unfortunately been denied the same employment opportunities as their heterosexual cis-gender co-workers due to Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, a law that prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of race, color, sex, religion and national origin. In more recent years, there has been an ongoing debate to determine whether sexual orientation and gender identification are considered protected classes under Title VII. In 2014, Obama Administration, Attorney General Eric Holder interpreted that Title VII prohibited employment discrimination based on an individual's gender identity, including transgender status, but in 2017, Jeff Sessions, Trump Administration's former Attorney General, upended that guidance and said the act doesn't protect transgender workers from employment discrimination.” As of June 15th 2020, the U.S Supreme Court passed a historic ruling that under federal law now protects LGBTQ+ workers from discrimination. Providing many members of the LGBTQ+ community with a sense of relief and opening the door for new employment opportunities.