Join us for IWPR’s 2026 Power+ Summit, The Power Grid: Driving Gender Equity Forward, taking place September 28–29 in Detroit, MI.
Together, we will spark bold ideas, share breakthroughs, and shape the future of gender equity.
IWPR stands with PRIDE!
Pride month is celebrated across the United States every June. It is a time when we honor the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on the country.
On June 26, 2015, when the Supreme Court of the United States recognized the right of same-sex partners to legally marry, the ruling not only meant increased access to benefits for same-sex couples and their children, it brought with it the hope of future gains through legal precedent for equal treatment under the law.
IWPR data show that we need for faster progress to ensure that LGBTQ+ individuals enjoy equal rights and opportunities in employment and earnings, and access to basic benefits to promote health and safety.
Some research done by IWPR regarding these inequalities faced by LGBTQ+ individuals includes:
Status of Women in the States
As of 2014, 29 states – mostly Midwestern, Mountain, and Southern states – still lacked statewide protections against employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
- Despite their strong participation in the labor force, many women living with a same-sex partner experience economic insecurity
- About 1 in 3 (34 percent) of LGBTQ+ women did not have enough money for food between 2011 and 2012, compared with 20 percent of non-LGBTQ+ women
- Lesbian and bisexual women aged 18 and older are more likely than heterosexual women to report having psychological distress – LGBTQ+ youth are more likely to experience mood and anxiety disorders, depression, and suicidal ideation and attempts
Status of Women in the South
In addition to employment discrimination, LGBTQ+ people still face legal barriers to equality as many states do not protect LGBTQ+ people from being evicted or denied a home loan and denied health coverage on the basis of their identities
- Some states are attempting to pass laws specifically prohibiting second-parent adoption for same-sex couples
- Women aged 25 and older living with a same-sex partner in the South are much more likely than women overall to have a bachelor’s degree or higher
- Southern women in same-sex households have higher rates of labor force participation relative to heterosexual women who are married to men or single
Status of Black Women in the United States
- Research suggests that Black LGBTQ+ individuals, especially those who are victims of violence, experience heightened discrimination from law enforcement
- Once in prison, LGBTQ+ women of color report high levels of discrimination and assault within prisons. Forty percent of girls in juvenile detention describe themselves as lesbian, bisexual, gender questioning/gender non-conforming, or transgender
Facts matter. That is why the Institute for Women’s Policy Research works to produce high quality research on women and families around the country and around the world, we give you the facts.
The Institute for Women’s Policy Research conducts and communicates research to inspire public dialogue, shape policy, and improve the lives and opportunities of women of diverse backgrounds, circumstances, and experiences.
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To view more of IWPR’s research, visit IWPR.org