More Than Half of Queer Latinx Employees Experience Discrimination at Work

More Than Half of Queer Latinx Employees Experience Discrimination at Work

The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law has released new data that shows a concerning number of queer Latinx workers who have reported discrimination or harassment at work. An alarming 58% have reported incidents from their work life, including being fired, lack of promotion, not being hired, verbal, physical, or sexual harassment due to their gender identity or sexual orientation.

 

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The Williams Institute is one of the nation's leading public policy research institutes based at the UCLA School of Law that focuses on sexual orientation and gender identity issues. Despite federal discrimination laws in the workplace, last year more than 26% queer Latinx employees reported incidents. In addition, data shows that queer Latinx employees will experience such incidents more likely than white LGBTQ employees, at a 46 % vs 27% ratio.

The Founding Director of the Williams Institute issued a statement: "Stronger protections, such as monitoring and enforcement, are needed to ensure complete protection from discrimination and harassment for Latinx LGBTQ individuals in the workplace. The combined experiences of mistreatment faced by Latinx LGBTQ workers due to their LGBTQ status, race/ethnicity, disability, and other factors highlight the necessity for policies that address intersecting and overlapping forms of discrimination.”

Other important data factors include that 65% of queer Latinx employees were under the age of 35, and 82% were under the age of 45. As far as income, 48% of the workforce is making less than $50K a year.

As far as going back in the closet, 46% reported that they were not out to the current supervisor and 18% were not out to anyone at work. 28% have changed the way they dress, 27% have changed their physical appearance, and 33% report having to change their voice or mannerisms while at work. 42% avoid work-related social events, and 33% avoid talking about family/social life at work. How does that make for a mentally healthy work environment?

 

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Over 40% of queer Latinx employees have left a job because of how they have been treated regarding their LGBTQ status. 75% have taken steps in finding a new job.

We can only imagine how things might get worse for any queer employee based on the next election.

Do you identify as a queer Latinx employee? Have you experienced discrimination?

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