Americans Identifying as LGBTI+ Increased

According to a recent survey from the Gallup research firm, 5.6 percent of Americans are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex people. This significant increase, which means about 18 million people, is attributed to the greater acceptance of LGBTI+ individuals in the society.

While this rate was 4.5 percent in Gallup’s 2017 survey, the result from the 2020 survey indicates a record jump of 24 percent. The main reason for the increase is from Generation Z adults aged 18-23. 15.9 percent of this generation say they are LGBTI+.

“At a time when the public is increasingly promoting equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, ınterex + people, a growing percentage of Americans identify as LGBTI+,” the Gallup website said.

In the 2020 election, the US saw Pete Buttigieg as the first openly gay presidential candidate. LGBTI+ candidates have had multiple historic wins, including Sarah McBride, the first open transgender state senator.

According to the Washington-based research center Public Religion Research Institute, Americans’ support for same sex marriage, which was legalized in 2015 and seen largely as a synonym for LGBTI+ rights, rose from 36 percent in 2007 to 62 percent in 2020.

The Gallup survey shows that 54.6 percent of LGBTI+ Americans identify as bisexual, 24.5 percent are gay men, 11.7 percent are lesbians and 11.3 percent are transgender.

For the first survey conducted in 2012, 15,000 Americans were randomly interviewed by phone throughout 2020. While 86.7 percent of the respondents identified themselves as heterosexual, 7.6 percent refused to respond to the interviewers. This rate was around 5 percent in past surveys.

There were significant differences between generations. Among those born before 1946, seniors were much less likely to see themselves as LGBTI+. The lowest rate was recorded as 1.3 percent.

Researchers found that women were more likely to describe themselves as LGBTI+ than men. While this rate was 4.9 percent for men, it was 6.4 percent for women. From a political point of view, 13 percent of liberal respondents and 2.3 percent of conservatives identified themselves as LGBTI+.

It is noted that there is a similar trend in England. According to government data, the proportion of people identifying themselves as lesbian, gay or bisexual increased from 1.6 percent in 2016 to 2.2 percent in 2018.

American First Lesbian Attorney General

If you are confused about American politics (which I as a Canadian am often), there are two major parties in the USA – the Democrats and the Republicans. President Obama is a Democrat.

If you are a lesbian, then the Democratic party is kinder to you. Under President Obama and with pressure on the Supreme Court by the LGBT community and their friends, state by state is legalizing same-sex marriage.

Democrat Maura Healey was elected as the state’s new top cop last night,succeeding her former boss Martha Coakley and making history as the nation’s first openly gay state attorney general.

“I’m so humble and grateful to the voters across the state for turning out to elect me,” said Healey, who plans to tackle gun violence, prescription drug and heroin abuse, and civil rights, among other issues, when she takes office in January.

“It’s a broad agenda and a big agenda. … As attorney general you don’t have the luxury to do just one thing at once,” Healey said. “It’s important to build and maintain the top talent in the attorney general’s office so we’re able to protect the people of Massachusetts.”

Healey, who helped lead the legal battle to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act and give federal recognition to same-sex married couples while working for the attorney general’s office, beat out Winchester attorney and Republican John B. Miller to become the first openly gay state attorney general in the nation.

“I’m proud that we’ve broken that barrier, but I’m also proud that it wasn’t an issue during the campaign,” Healey said. “I think that says a lot about how far we’ve come.”

MassEquality Executive Director KC Coredini called Healey’s win a “historic victory for LGBTQ people and for LGBTQ equality.”

“Maura has spent the last seven years in the attorney general’s office making the commonwealth a national leader on LGBTQ issues with her vision, drive and talent,” Coredini said. “Now, as the country’s first openly gay state attorney general, she is poised to make history again, not only with what more she will accomplish in this critical office, but with who she is.”

Healey worked in the AG’s office first as the chief of the civil rights division and then leading bureaus on Public Protection and Advocacy, as well as on Business and Labor.

The former Middlesex County prosecutor cast herself as the underdog and triumphed in the primary over the Democratic-establishment-backed candidate Warren Tolman to win a spot on yesterday’s ballot.

Healey, a Harvard graduate, also played professional basketball in Europe before earning a law degree at Northeastern University.

In the open race for treasurer, Brookline Democrat Deb Goldberg beat Republican Mike Heffernan and Green Rainbow candidate Ian Jackson to replace Treasurer Steven Grossman, while Democratic incumbents Secretary of State William F. Galvin and Auditor Suzanne Bump held onto their seats.

Galvin fended off challenges from Malden Republican David D’Arcangelo as well as Green Rainbow Party candidate Daniel Factor, while Bump bested Republican Patricia

Maura Healy-American First Lesbian Attorney General

Paula, 2014, stories4hotbloodedlesbians.com

Lesbian Victories in US Politics

Christine Quinn, an open and married lesbian is running for Major of New York City. If she wins, it will be the first time in twenty years since a Democrat takes the position. Michael Bloomberg has been in office for twelve years.

In the mayorial race is Anthony Weiner, who became infamous when he emailed pictures of his crotch to a number of women. Weiner is married to a former Hilary Clinton’s aide,Huma Abedin who has stood by him.

So, is there a penis versus a vagina race between these two? (just joking).

As LGBTI people, it is heart-warming to read of our brothers and sisters who have made a difference in politics. Harvey Milk paid with his life in San Francisco in 1978 when he fought against a proposal to fire all gay school teachers in California.

To the present, we congratulate gay Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell involved in marriage equality in the New York State Legislature

For the record,

– no openly LGBT governor or United States president has ever been elected to office

– no openly LGBT person has been named or served as a federal Cabinet member

But, we’re discussing lesbian victories in USA politics, so let’s celebrate

– Federal judge: Deborah Batts, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York – appointed 1994

– U.S. Senate (first openly LGBT person, out when first elected): Tammy Baldwin – elected 2012, lesbian, representing Wisconsin

Lesbian Mayors

Massachusettes: Gina Genovese, elected Mayor, 2005 – Neptune Township

Texas :Mayor: Annise Parker, elected Mayor of Houston 2009

So let’s spread this information world-wide to aspiring lesbians politicians and lawyers.

paula, 2014, stories4hotbloodedlesbians.com

How Many Americans Are Bisexual or Homosexual?

A recent survey (the annual National Health Interview Survey) by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention asked about sexual orientation for the first time. While the majority of candidates reported being heterosexual, of the 34,557, 1.6 percent claimed to be homosexual and 0.7 claimed to be bisexual. While many other surveys have claimed much higher numbers, it is important to keep in mind that this is a very difficult number to pinpoint.

You may be asking why. To start, the survey is more or less showcasing results for how those who have taken it identify themselves. Whether or not it factually identifies all participants based on societal definitions of sexuality is too complicated a question to test without further research. Keep in mind that many people do not care to share their sexuality, possibly due to shame, misidentification with how they feel inside, or simply not wanting to release that information. It’s a complicated subject; proclaiming you are gay or bisexual carries many social stigmas.

Questions were provided to surveyors via computer, which they personally asked participants who then answered by showing flash cards. This person to person questioning may help comfort, but still, it does nothing to encourage people to discuss their true indentity. Furthermore, the survey asked nothing regarding transexuals, whose sexuality may be very difficult at times to define.

These statistics may help narrow and target treatment for sexual minorities, which is good, but they still lack accuracy. Without societal reform, it may be impossible to get information that is, figuratively, hidden in the closet.

September 2014

Transgender woman murdered

Tyler’s friends believe she was a victim of a hate crime.

“This has to be a hate crime, this has to be a hate crime, nothing else because that was an upstanding person with a good heart,” Underwood’s roommate, Coy Simmons told KYTX.

“She was lovely, just a lovely person.”

Tyler’s friends say she was well-liked and had no enemies. “She’s a fan favourite,” Kenya Darks told local news station, KLTV.

Police suggested that Tyler was shot before trying to flee from her attacker in her car. Police are still searching for a suspect. and have appealed to the public to come forward if they have any information.

Transgender Employment and Job Seeking

Transgender people comprise 0.3 % of American adults, or about 700,000 people, according to a 2011 study by the Williams Institute. And their unemployment is 2X the rate of the general population, with athema also 4X more likely to live in poverty (according to the 2011 National Transgender Discrimination Survey, (n=6,450.) The challenge then is how do we get our community employed and above the poverty line?

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ruled that discrimination based on gender identity is sex discrimination, triggering Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. President Obama has also signed Executive Orders protecting federal employee and federal contractor transgender workers. Some states and localities have passed laws protecting transgender workers. Despite this, many transgender people struggle to find work.

And now, many states are are pushing back and try to remove protextions for the transgender community, just as President Trump announced his intensions to block the trans community from serving in the military.

Aside from the surface issues of presentation, (how you look) there is the issue of legal identification. Almost all job applications ask for legal name, social security number, and past references. If you haven’t changed your name yet, you face the ugly requirement of putting your legal name on your application instead of your gender conforming name. You may also have to check the dreaded M box instead of the F, or vice-versa.

Macy’s, no doubt as a result of the Macy vs. Holder decision, has adopted a very trans-friendly application that adds a space where you can put down the name you prefer to be called by, in addition to your legal name.

Companies can’t get around the legal name issue for obvious reasons. Even if you have changed your legal name, you have to deal with all of your references knowing you by your birthname. So many transgender people wonder, often with some level of desperation, how they will find gainful employment other than the local street corner. Below is some advice to help you land a decent job.

LGBT Job Fairs

Hey, if companies have tables at these, they are looking to hire you! That should give you a great confidence boost. Even if they are looking for the L or G component, at least you know your odds are better than a blind interview. Affirmations in Ferndale, MI has a LGBT career fair, and many large cities host LGBT career fairs. You may have to travel, but you hook up with some local girls and make a day out of it while you are there. Getting hired will take some effort; be prepared to put some mileage on your car and be prepared (and willing) to relocate.

LinkedIn

I have to admit that I’ve been a bit disappointed with this one, but it is obligatory that you at least have a good profile there. Most HR departments will look you up online, and LinkedIn is one of the first places they look — so you need to have some good info on your publicly accessible profile. ou can also search for jobs and networks there, and it is good for at least seeing the ebb and flow of local jobs in your area.

Networking

As transgender people enter the workforce, we have an obligation to help one another. Flat out, yes we do. In the same way that there is an good ol’ boys network, there needs to be a “former old boy’s network,” (or former girl’s network.) Affirmative actio — regardless of your political views as to the fairness of it — helped African Americans. Employee support groups, both company led and privately formed, definitely helped move more African Americans into the professional workforce. We need to help each other in the same way, and this includes those closeted individuals who aren’t ready to come out themselves, but can definitely help a sister (or brother) out.

Be That Much Better

You need to be stellar awesome in your communications, interview, and preparation. The cards will be stacked against you, not only from being one of hundreds of applicants (potentially), but realistically because of your transgender status. You need to be that much better than everyone else so as to shine so brightly that your ability transcends your gender. Proper research on the company you are interviewing with is essential. Preparation, such as practice interviews, and presentation (dressing) skills are essential. Record yourself in a practice interview and lsiten to it over and over until you’ve worked out all the flaws. Get a friend to work with you. Let them ask off the cuff questions so you can get comfortable in your responses. You can learn a lot about what the interviewer sees; then work to correct any mistakes and perfect your responses.

Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index

This is a great resource to quickly check up on how LGBT friendly companies are. Companies are rated on a score of 0 to 100. The higher the score the more inclusive the company is. You should also check out the company website and find their diversity and non-discrimination language. If they have transgender listed, then it is an indication that at least someone in HR is aware of transgender people.

Be Confident

Confidence is a huge asset! You are an asset tho the company, you know, and need to let them see and feel it too — without coming across as arrogant or conceited. There are many out there that will patronize you, and/or be condesending. Don’t let them. You can be confident is who you are and what you’re capable of contributing, all while maintaing your composure. Be upfront about your status, don’t hide it, but don’t overly volunteer more than they want, or need, to know. You may also have to walk the fine line between being a “crusader” and getting hired. Some questions that are put to you may be illegal, so do some homework and be prepared. But remember your goal is not to be confrontational, it’s to get hired. Grace and gentle education can go a long way. Finally, always follow up. You can never close a sale if you don’t ask for it. Proper manners and etiquette are always appreciated, but show them through your eagaerness and persistance that you want this job.

Take Acton if You are Wronged

If you are definitely discriminated against you are unlikely to sue — it’s expensive, time consuming, and in some cases very public. However, you could file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. You can also inform national and/or local advocacy groups, such as the afore-mentioned Human Rights Campaign, or your local LGBT organization. At the very least, it will help inform others about how companies treat transgender people.

Hope this helps.

Jenni Contrisciani, MBA

08 April 2001 @tglife.com