In collaboration with the Movement Advancement Project (MAP), Center for American Progress, and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), GLAAD has released a new report, Understanding Issues Facing LGBT Americans.
The report explores LGBT Americans' abilities to pursue health and happiness, take care of loved ones, and be safe in communities, as well as opportunities to serve the country and earn a living.
“It is vital that we raise awareness about the many ways LGBT people are harmed by a lack of legal protections,” said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “This guide is a welcome resource to help have important conversations that will open hearts and minds.”
Among the data uncovered in "Understanding Issues Facing LGBT Americans":
- LGBT couples who are denied legal recognition as a couple or as parents can also be denied health insurance for their families by employers
- 1 in 4 low- and middle-income LGBT people do not have health insurance
- Transgender people are often outright denied health coverage entirely by insurers
- LGBT Americans have poorer overall health outcomes than non-LGBT Americans, in part because of inaccess to healthcare and discrimination in a healthcare setting
- HIV-related healthcare remains costly, and securing adequate funding for care, prevention, and research is a constant challenge.
- LGBT people are not protected by federal law from discrimination in housing, public accommodations, credit, or employment
- For LGBT couples in 26 states, one of the parents is legally considered a stranger to the couples' children
- Same-sex couples who are not legally recognized as couples are not able to sponsor a partner for immigration
- LGBT immigrants are more likely to come into contact with law enforcement officials and are especially vulnerable to discrimination and mistreatment once dentained
- As many as 40% of homeless youth in America are LGBT, compared to as many as 7% of non-LGBT homeless youth.
- 29% of transgender people surveyed in 2010 reported being turned away from a homeless shelter because of their identity
- Acceptance of LGBT people within religious congregations is on the rise
- 86% of Christians say their faith leads them to believe that LGBT deserve to be treated equally by the law
- All but one state (Idaho) has at least one elected official who is openly lesbian, gay, or bisexual, but very few have openly trans elected officials