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LGBTQ People Were More Likely to Lose Income During the Pandemic

In first-of-their kind surveys from the U.S. Census Bureau, LGBTQ people reported greater emotional and economic suffering during the Covid crisis. 

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In a first-of-its-kind survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly a quarter of LGBTQ people reported losing income during the Covid-19 pandemic, a higher share than non-LGTBQ respondents. 

U.S. unemployment and income statistics don’t specifically measure the LGBTQ experience. This past July, the U.S. Census Bureau for the first time collected information about sexual orientation and gender identity of respondents to its Household Pulse Survey. Across four surveys about emotional and economic well-being, LGBTQ respondents reported higher levels of food insecurity, anxiety and depression than non-LGBTQ people.