HRC data finds Black LGBTQ people hit harder by COVID-19 economic impact

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Tom Wray
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A transmasculine person taking money out of their wallet and looking. (Photo by Zackary Drucker as part of Broadly's Gender Spectrum Collection. Credit: The Gender Spectrum Collection. Made available to media outlets via Creative Commons. No derivatives, no commercial use. See guidelines here: broadlygenderphotos.vice.com/guidelines)

WASHINGTON — Last week, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) released data outlining the economic impact of COVID-19 on Black LGBTQ people.

The research, released in partnership with PSB Insights, builds on prior data showing that LGBTQ people, especially LGBTQ people of color and specifically transgender people of color, are disproportionately impacted economically by the pandemic.

The new research shows that Black LGBTQ people are more likely to have had their employment adversely impacted due to the virus, are more likely to have made changes to their budgets and are more likely to have asked for delays in paying various expenses for necessities.

“Even as Black communities, especially Black trans communities, across the country are reckoning with racism and violence, Black LGBTQ people are also being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “We know Black people are dying from COVID-19 at extremely alarming rates. Unfortunately, this new research shows Black people and Black LGBTQ people are suffering disproportionate economic inequities. The data make clear what we have long known: that those living at the intersections of multiply marginalized identities face harsher consequences of the pandemic. It is a clarion call to policymakers that we must do all we can to combat the virus and its economic impact on multiply marginalized communities.”

Among the findings:

  • 31% of Black LGBTQ respondents had their work hours reduced due to COVID-19, compared to 23% of Black respondents, 28% of LGBTQ respondents and 22% of the general sample population.
  • 18% of Black LGBTQ respondents became unemployed due to COVID-19, compared to 16% of Black respondents, 16% of LGBTQ people and 12% of the general sample population
  • 36% of Black LGBTQ respondents have made changes to their household budgets, compared to 27% of Black respondents, 30% of LGBTQ respondents and 26% of the general sample population.
  • 28% of Black LGBTQ respondents have taken out more cash from the bank, compared to 15% of Black respondents, 18% of LGBTQ respondents and 13% of the general sample population.

You can read the full report here.

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