EDUCATION & ACTION DURING COVID-19 SERIES

Economic Insecurity

What are the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on low-wage workers and other vulnerable communities?

Source: National Women’s Law Center, When Hard Work Is Not Enough: Women in Low-Paid Jobs, 2020
  • According to the William Institute, LGBTQ people collectively have a higher poverty rate than cisgender straight people. Lesbian women have similar rates of poverty to straight cisgender women, but both have higher rates than both gay and straight cisgender men. What’s more, transgender people are hit especially hard with a staggering poverty rate of 29.4%, and in both rural and urban areas, transgender people face higher economic insecurity:
Source: MAP, Where We Call Home: Transgender People in Rural America, 2019
  • 25% of LGBTQ adults have annual incomes less than $24,000.
  • For LGBTQ people of color, poverty rates are particularly high:
Source: MAP, Where We Call Home: Transgender People in Rural America, 2019

Unemployment & the CARES Act

  • 2 million LGBTQ workers in restaurants and food services
  • 1 million in hospitals
  • Nearly 1 million in K-12 education
  • Nearly 1 million in colleges and universities
  • Half a million in retail

Take Action

  • If you used services like housecleaning or have a monthly membership at a gym, consider continuing paying your service provider. They are being severely impacted by the loss of work.
  • If you had to cancel an appointment or service from someone working in the gig economy, pay what you can through mobile payment services like Venmo or Cash App.
  • Support local businesses by ordering online or buying gift certificates for future use.
  • Tell Congress we need the PAID Leave Act in the next COVID-19 relief package: add your name to the MomsRising petition.

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MAP is an independent, nonprofit think tank that provides rigorous research, insight and communications that help speed equality and opportunity for all.

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Movement Advancement Project

MAP is an independent, nonprofit think tank that provides rigorous research, insight and communications that help speed equality and opportunity for all.