Black LGBTQ Americans Are Disproportionately Financially Affected by COVID-19, Report Finds

Black Americans have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, making up 23 percent of COVID-related deaths despite making up only 13 percent of the population. However, new findings from the Human Rights Campaign and PSB Insights reveals that COVID-19 has also taken a disproportionate financial toll on Black LGBTQ Americans.

The report, which included findings from 10,000 US adults surveyed, found that Black LGBTQ respondents were more likely to report losing income, working fewer hours, becoming unemployed, and making changes to their household budgets than non-Black or non-LGBTQ people.

31 percent of Black LGBTQ respondents had their work hours reduced due to the coronavirus pandemic, compared to 23 percent of Black respondents, 28 percent of LGBTQ respondents, and 22 percent of the general sample population.  18 percent also reported becoming unemployed, compared to 16 percent of Black respondents, 16 percent of LGBTQ people, and 12 percent of the general population.

36 percent of Black LGBTQ respondents have made changes to their household budgets, compared to 27 percent of Black respondents, 30 percent of LGBTQ respondents, and 26 percent of the general population.

These findings highlight the need for policymakers to prioritize the economic inequities suffered by Black LGBTQ people, says HRC President Alphonso David.

“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,” he said in a statement. “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.”