LGBTQ+ individuals face a range of unique challenges in Los Angeles County, from hate crimes to discrimination in the workplace and public sphere, to a lack of access to quality healthcare due to cost pressures. A comprehensive new study from the Center for American Progress reveals that many LGBTQ people continue to face discrimination in their personal lives, in the workplace and in the public sphere, and in their access to critical health care. Among people who specifically identified themselves as non-binary, gender-queer, gender-gendered, or gender-dissatisfied, nearly 7 out of 10 (69%) reported being victims of discrimination last year. At a basic level, this study reveals that many LGBTQ people report having been abused in their public, work, and personal lives.
Despite the increasing visibility of transgender people in the media, transgender people continue to face disproportionate levels of discrimination and violence in many areas of life. While 88% of LGBTQ Americans overall claim to have health insurance, mostly through an employer-sponsored or government-sponsored exchange or Medicaid, cost-related pressures represent a particular challenge for younger generations in the community. The California Equality Institute works to educate the LGBTQ+ community and the wider community of immigration activists about the aggravated disparities faced by undocumented LGBTQ+ Californians. Despite the growing acceptance of LGBTQ+ people in California and across the United States, the LGBTQ+ community continues to face pervasive health and wellness disparities due to a lack of access to affordable, quality health care.
It is essential that we continue to work together to ensure that all members of our society are treated with respect and dignity regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We must strive for a world where everyone is able to live their lives free from fear of discrimination or violence. The California Equality Institute is working hard to educate both the LGBTQ+ community and immigration activists about these disparities so that they can be addressed and remedied. LGBTQ+ individuals face unique challenges in Los Angeles County that can be difficult to overcome.
From hate crimes to discrimination in the workplace and public sphere, to a lack of access to quality healthcare due to cost pressures, queer individuals must be supported and empowered so that they can live their lives free from fear.
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