Latino LGBT Population in U.S. Now Stands at 1.4 Million
UCLA Williams Institute just released a new report estimating that 1.4 million, or 4.3 percent, of the Latino adults in the U.S. identify themselves as LGBT. The same survey indicated that the nationwide self-identifying LGBT population rate is slightly lower, 3.5 percent.
The report is based on census data, collected through forms and Gallup polls; distributed by Angeliki Kastanis (Public Policy Research Fellow) and Gary J. Gates (Williams Distinguished Scholar), UCLA Williams Institute Scholars.
The survey provided a great deal of interesting data where LGBT Latino are concerned.
According to the research, areas with higher concentrations of Hispanics have more LGBT Latinos, the leading states being Texas, Nevada and California. Those same states, unfortunately, are states that tend to have fewer legal protections for LGBT people.
"While sometimes less visible in popular representations of LGBT people and families, Latinos make up a sizable portion of the LGBT population, and they tend to live in Latino, as opposed to LGBT, communities," said co-author Gary J. Gates.
The survey also indicates that of the 1,419,200 LGBT Latinos in the US, it's estimated that roughly 30 percent of same-sex couples who live together also live in populations with high volumes of Latinos. Though, of those couples, a full 63 percent are interracial; one of the partners not being Latino.
LGBT Latinos have a higher rate of unemployment (14 percent) than "straight" Latinos (11 percent); though more LGBT Latinos have college degrees (26 percent) compared to their heterosexual counterparts (14 percent). And LGBT Latinos earn a higher median income.
The report was conducted to provide a population estimate of LGBT Latino individuals and couples and to gain an understanding of the socioeconomic situation of that populaces.
Access "LGBT Latino/a Individuals and Latino/a Same-gender Couples" and the data from the aforemention survey in its entirety; it can be viewed HERE.