Learn about bias and discrimination the LGBTQ+ community faces

Learn about how bias and explicit discrimination show up and impact the LGBTQ+ community.

Facts about bias and discrimination

Bias and discrimination affects the lives of people from various sexual orientations in different ways. For instance, data from the Center for American Progress suggest that:
Transgender white woman wearing a Transgender pride flag

  1. More than 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ Americans faced discrimination of some kind in the past year, including more than 3 in 5 transgender Americans.

  2. More than half of LGBTQ+ Americans report that they hide a relationship due to discrimination. About one-fifth to one-third have made changes to aspects of their personal or work lives.

  3. Discrimination is most common among people of color, transgender people, and disabled people.

  4. The FBI reports that hate crimes based on sexual orientation make up 16.7% of crimes. Read about the ongoing hate crime epidemic and how bias plays a role.

  5. One third of LGBTQ+ Americans reported discrimination that affected their ability to get jobs.

  6. 1 in 2 LGBTQ Americans report how discrimination has a negative impact on their mental and well-being. And 29% said it had a major impact on their financial well-being.

Read the full report
Pride protest filled with various signs

Understand the rise in anti-LGBTQ attacks

The FBI reports that hate crimes based on sexual orientation make up 16.7% of crimes. Read about the ongoing hate crime epidemic and how bias plays a role.
Read the report

LGBTQ+ rights are under attack

LGBTQ+ people continue to face bias, discrimination, and hate in their personal lives, at work, and in public. For instance:
Older lesbian couple smiling at each other

  1. 46% of LGBTQ+ Gen Z adults experienced discrimination at school, compared with 41% in public spaces.

  2. Discrimination affects the mental and economic well-being of many LGBTQ+ Americans, including 1 in 2 who report moderate or significant negative psychological impacts.

  3. Almost 29% of LGBTQ+ individuals said that discrimination had a major impact on their financial well-being. This includes 37% of Black respondents and 54% of transgender respondents.

  4. One third of LGBTQ+ Americans reported discrimination that affected their ability to get jobs.

Read the full report
Pregnant lesbian couple laying on a couch together

Discrimination in health and wellness spaces

The LGBTQ+ community can face unique obstacles in health and wellness spaces. Check out these resources to get a different perspective.
Learn about the obstacles

Questions to self reflect

Multi-racial group with different sexual orientations and rainbow flag around their shoulders Multi-racial group with different sexual orientations and rainbow flag around their shoulders

Have you ever referred to being gay as a “choice” or a “lifestyle” that can be changed?

A person’s sexual orientation is a natural part of who they are – it is not a choice to be gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual, etc. We don’t decide who we are attracted to, so therapy, “treatment,” or persuasion won’t change a person’s sexual orientation.

Some of these practices are known as “conversion therapy” which has proven detrimental to the mental health of LGBTQ+ people and is illegal in many states because of how harmful it can be to young people. People also can’t “turn” gay, so exposing a boy to toys traditionally made for girls, such as dolls, won’t “cause” him to be gay (for example).
Read more questions to self reflect