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FDLP Resource Guides
Beginning summer 2023, we are updating our guides. You may notice changes to the look and feel of our existing guides. If you have any questions or experience any issues, please contact askGPO.

Then and Now Experiences of the LGBTQ+ Community

Overview

The LGBTQ+ community faces many issues that impact their livelihood and civil rights in today's society. Learn about some of these issues and U.S. Government resources that provide additional information.

Crime

In October 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation released the 2022 Hate Crimes Statistics Report. According to the report, LGBTQ+ targeted crime rose more than 10% between 2021 and 2022; and a "significant increase of nearly 40% was observed in reported anti-transgender incidents (totaling 338) compared to 2021."

Click on the "Information" tab in this box to learn about topics related to crime and for resources on safety.

Screenshot of "Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020"

Bureau of Justice Statistics

Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020

  • Check out this report (NCJ No. 304277).
Screenshot of "Hate Crimes against LGBT People: National Crime Victimization Survey, 2017-2019"

National Library of Medicine (NLM)

Hate Crimes against LGBT People: National Crime Victimization Survey, 2017-2019

  • Read this article made available for free by NLM: PLoS One. 2022 Dec 21;17(12):e0279363. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279363. eCollection 2022.
Screenshot of "LGBTQI+ Community Resources"

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

LGBTQI+ Community Resources

  • Learn about DHS' safety trainings for LGBTQ+ community organizations.
Screenshot of "Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth is Violence Prevention"

U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)

See some research from the DOJ's National Criminal Justice Reference Service Virtual Library

Education

"Bullying, harassment, exclusion from school activities, and other forms of discrimination can interfere with LGBTQI+ students’ access to a safe and inclusive school environment. Federal law, however, requires schools to ensure that LGBTQI+ students and other students have equal access to all aspects of a school’s programs and activities."^

Click on the "Information" tab in this box to learn about topics related to education.

^U.S. Department of Education

Screenshot of "Promoting School Safety for LGBTQ and All Students"

National Library of Medicine

Read some articles made available for free by NLM:

Screenshot of "Understanding LGBTQ+ Identity: A Toolkit for Educators"

Public Broadcasting Service

Understanding LGBTQ+ Identity: A Toolkit for Educators

  • Explore resources for educators on "complex and difficult issues faced by LGBTQ students."
Screenshot of "Resources for LGBTQI+ Students"

U.S. Department of Education

Resources for LGBTQI+ Students

  • Check out these resources from the U.S. Department of Education.
Screenshot of "LGBTQI+ Youth"

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Stopbullying.gov

  • View resources on how to help prevent and stop bullying.

Employment

Employers cannot discriminate against a person's sexual orientation, which includes allocation of lesser job assignments, rejection for a promotion, and getting fired.^

Click on the "Information" tab in this box to learn about topics related to employment including protections against employment discrimination.

^Worker.gov

Screenshot of "LGBTQI+ Policy"

U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)

LGBTQI+ Policy

  • View the list of resources and Presidential actions to "advance equality for LGBTQI+ Americans."
Screenshot of "Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Discrimination"

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

See information on laws and policies related to employment harassment and discrimination.

Screenshot of "Sexual Orientation"

Worker.gov

Sexual Orientation

  • Check out this DOL website on employment resources.

Health

According to the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health from 2021 and 2022, "Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults are more likely than straight adults to use substances, experience mental health issues including major depressive episodes, and experience serious thoughts of suicide."^

Click on the tabs in this box to learn about topics related to health.

^Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Screenshot of "National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging"

Administration for Community Living (ACL)

National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging

  • Explore this technical assistance program of SAGE, which is partly funded by a federal grant. This program is focused on improving the quality of services and supports offered to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender older adults, families, and caregivers.
Screenshot of "Health Considerations for LGBTQ Youth"

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Discover some online resources, including:

Screenshot of "Two-Spirit/LGBTQI+ Health"

Indian Health Service

Two-Spirit/LGBTQI+ Health

  • Check out health resources for American Indian and Alaska Native individuals, their families, and their communities.
Screenshot of "Learning More About LGBTQIA+ Health Thanks to All of Us"

National Institutes of Health

Learning More About LGBTQIA+ Health Thanks to All of Us 

  • Learn about the prevalence of certain medical conditions in the LGBTQ+ community (also available in Español).
"Health Care Disparities Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth: A Literature Review"

National Library of Medicine (NLM)

Read some articles made available for free by NLM:

"Mental Health Struggles Higher Among LGBT Adults Than Non-LGBT Adults in All Age Groups"

U.S. Census Bureau

Mental Health Struggles Higher Among LGBT Adults Than Non-LGBT Adults in All Age Groups

  • Delve into data regarding mental health of LGBTQ+ adults through the Household Pulse Survey.
Screenshot of "HIV.gov"

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

HIV.gov

  • See the U.S. and global statistics regarding HIV. 
Screenshot of "Population Page - LGBTQ+ Veterans"

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Population Page - LGBTQ+ Veterans

  • See health information related to LGBTQ+ veterans through the VA's Office of Health Equity. 
Screenshot of "Behavioral Health"

youth.gov (Interagency Website)

Behavioral Health

  • Visit this interagency website that provides information on mental health, suicide, and substance use.

Housing

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), "Nearly 40 percent of all youth experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQI+, and these disparities are especially pronounced for transgender youth and other Black and brown LGBTQI+ youth."

Click on the "Information" tab in this box to learn about topics related to housing including housing discrimination and homelessness.

Statistics

According to the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Sex Characteristics (SOGISC) Subcommittee of the Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology (FCSM), "Federal statistics on... SOGISC are used to inform policy affecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, and additional non-straight, non-cisgender identity (LGBTQIA+) populations in the United States. Accordingly, there is interest in improving the measurement of SOGISC." 

Click on the "Information" tab in this box to learn about topics related to federal statistics and data on the LGBTQ+ community.

Screenshot of "Federal Evidence Agenda on LGBTQI+ Equity"

National Science and Technology Council (NIST)

Federal Evidence Agenda on LGBTQI+ Equity

  • Read a report for Federal agencies on the collection of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data "to help assess, improve, and monitor the health and well-being of LGBTQI+ people over time."

Screenshot of "Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Sex Characteristics Subcommittee (SOGISC)"

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Sex Characteristics Subcommittee (SOGISC)

  • View information including terminology, research agendas, and evaluations of methodology related to how SOGI information is collected in Federal surveys.
Screenshot of "LGBTQIA+ Pride Month: June 2024"

U.S. Census Bureau

See data, resources, and information the U.S. Census Bureau provides, including:

Screenshot of "LGBTQ+ Pride Month"

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

LGBTQ+ Pride Month

  • Check out information relating to LGBTQ+ small businesses and their impact on the economy.