LGBT People in Virginia And 14,200 same-sex couples Virginia is home to 185,000 LGBT adults Same-sex couples per 1,000 households in Virginia LGBT people in Virginia are racially and ethnically diverse— LGBT people in Mississippi are racially and 22% are African American and 8% are Latino/a ethnically diverse – 35% are African Latino/a 8% African American 22% White 66% 18% of same-sex couples in Virginia (2,600 couples) are raising children As a result of a court decision extending marriage equality, an estimated 7,122 same-sex couples in Virginia will marry by the end of 2017 • In total, wedding spending by these couples will add an estimated $60 million to the state economy • This economic boost would add $3.2 million in sales tax revenue to state and local coffers • It could also generate up to 600 full- and part-time jobs LGBT people Virginia experience discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity Discrimination experienced by transgender workers in Virginia 80% Harassed or Mistreated 44% Not Hired 26% 22% Lost a Job Denied a Promotion Polls have found that 78% of Virginia residents think that LGBT people experience discrimination in the state Only 6% of Virginia’s workforce is covered by local laws that protect workers from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity But, 84% of Virginia residents support employment non-discrimination protections for LGBT people Many LGBT People in Virginia are economically vulnerable Economic vulnerability of LGBT individuals compared to non-LGBT individuals in Virginia 33% 19% Annual income < $24,000 26% 24% 14% Not enough money for food LGBT 15% Not enough money for health care Non-LGBT Connect with the Williams Institute: http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/