Report
LGBTQ Economics
May 2021
This report examines the demographic and economic characteristics of the LGBTQ population in the U.S. and explores current data on employment discrimination and wage gap trends. It appeared in the Journal of Economic Perspectives in May 2021.
Highlights
LGBTQ people have faced discrimination in employment, with outright bans in federal employment.
Research finds a negative wage gap for gay and bisexual men but a positive wage gap for lesbian and bisexual women.
We know little about whether the rising acceptance of LGBTQ people has translated into changes in economic status.