New Study Shows Roots of LGBTQ Poverty
A report from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law explores the roots of poverty among a diverse population of low-income LGBTQ people in California. Researchers interviewed 93 low-income LGBTQ people between the ages of 19 and 70. Of the 93 respondents, 77 percent identified as people of color and 70 percent reported an annual income of $20,000 or less. An analysis of the interviews indicated that 73 percent of participants experienced childhood poverty. Childhood poverty was more common for Black, Latinx, and Native American participants with 80 percent reporting economic insecurity as children compared to 50 percent of White and Asian Pacific Islander respondents. Those participants who did not experience poverty in childhood reported that anti-LGBTQ bias, familial rejection, mental health issues, and substance abuse issues were significant contributors to experiencing poverty in adulthood. The study also concluded that, among all participants, limited education, low-wage jobs, stress, and barriers to necessary services contributed to experiences of adult poverty.