Gay and lesbian adults are more likely to be in full-time employment than straight people, figures show

This week we'll talk about new data from the Office of National Statistics highlighted while there are more gay and lesbians adults in work in the UK, business leaders still have a long way to go when it comes to an inclusive workplace.

We'll also share some politics-related LGBTQ+ joy, as California swears in America's first Black and lesbian US Senator and Tennessee's first transgender state lawmaker also gets to work.

Gay and lesbian adults are more likely to be in full-time employment than straight people, new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.

The ONS released its latest report on diversity in the labour market last week (25 September). Data from the 2021 census report showed that 64 per cent of lesbian, gay and bisexual adults are in full-time employment compared to 58 per cent of heterosexual adults.

Among gay and lesbian people alone, the figure stood just above 70 per cent.

This data point is one of the few glimmers of hope suggesting that inclusion and representation are gradually improving in today’s workplace, with the rest of the report indicating that members of most minority groups are less likely to be in full-time employment compared to their majority counterparts.

On census day (21 March 2021), there were 27.8 million adults aged 16 and over in employment.

Despite the fact there are more adult females than adult males in the UK, only 53 per cent of females are working compared to 61 per cent of males. The report also noted that this gender gap grows between the ages of 30 and 70.

The report says that the increased gender gap is "partially explained" by females leaving the labour market after they have children and the higher levels of female unpaid carers.

Disabled adults are significantly less likely to be employed than non-disabled adults, with an employment rate of 27 per cent compared to 65 per cent.

Read more here

Laphonza Butler sworn in as first Black lesbian senator in Congress: 'California will be better-served'?

Laphonza Butler has become the first outperson of colour in the US senate, and only the third Black woman in the chamber ever.

She was chosen by California governor Gavin Newsom to replace Dianne Feinstein, the longest-serving female senator in history, who died aged 90 last week.?

Butler, 44, was sworn in on Tuesday (3 October) by US vice-president Kamala Harris, who is embarking on a tour of universities, encouraging young people to get involved in politics and register to vote.

Harris was a US senator for California from 2017 to 2021, with the only other Black woman in the senate being Carol Moseley Braun, of Illinois, who held office from 1993 until 1999.

Butler’s appointment brings the number of current Black senators to four – an all-time high. She joins fellow Democrats Cory Booker, of New Jersey, Raphael Warnock of Georgia, and South Carolina Republican Tim Scott.?

Read more here

Tennessee has made LGBTQ+ history after the state’s first transgender elected representative, Olivia Hill, was sworn into office.

Nashville’s Metro councillor, Olivia Hill, joined guests at The Hermitage Hotel’s ballroom to witness the historic swearing-in ceremony on Monday (2 October).

"I am elated," she said. "For every trans kid in the state of Tennessee who has felt discomfort or that they didn’t belong… we are valid."

Hill secured one of the five at-large seats on the council with 12.9 per cent of the vote during run-off elections last week.

The win was historic in more ways than one, with all five-at-large council seats being won by women for the first time.

"Representation is everything," Hill said. "I’ve been approached by so many mums and dads and teachers and leaders who have thanked me for running because now a lot of the trans community has something to see."

Read more here

Other PinkNews Articles

Check out some of the headlines you may have missed recently:

• Anti-LGBTQ+ Kevin McCarthy first House speaker in US history to be ousted (Read here)
• Suella Braverman says trans women ‘have no place’ in women’s hospital wards (Read here)
• US scores a lowly ‘C’ grade on global LGBTQ+ rights barometer (Read here)
• Polish politician ‘marries’ partner in symbolic wedding to call for marriage equality (Read here)

This week's newsletter was curated by and features an article from?Erik Niewiarowski, along with articles from Emily Chudy, Chantelle Billson , Amelia Hansford , and Ali Condon.

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