Editor's Note: Brian O'Connor contributed to this post.
Most members of America's LGBTQ+ community say they are more inclined to save money than to spend it. But a closer look at their habits suggests the opposite may be true, according to a new Experian survey on LGBTQ+ financial planning.
Asked to characterize their habits on a zero to 10 scale, with zero denoting "spender" and 10 denoting "saver," more than half (52%) of LGBTQ+ respondents placed themselves in the six-to-10 "saver" range. But responses to more detailed follow-up questions gave a decidedly different impression:
- More than two-fifths (44%) of LGBTQ+ respondents said they struggle to maintain adequate savings vs. 38% of the general population.
- Just over one-third (34%) of said they have bad spending habits that they'd like to improve or change vs. 28% of the general population.
- LGBTQ+ respondents estimated they devote 16% of monthly income to discretionary spending, but just 11% to saving or investment.
In conjunction with Pride Month 2018, Experian recently surveyed 500 individuals who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans or queer to learn more about their financial behaviors and attitudes. The Experian survey also included 500 non-LGBTQ+ Americans. Some interesting differences between the survey respondents emerged, but even more striking differences were found within different age groups in the LGBTQ+ population; particularly, the challenges and concerns of 25-to-34 year-olds in contrast to their older counterparts.
The idea for the survey was sparked by a conversation with our friends the Debt Free Guys, about the dearth of data on the financial views and challenges specific to members of the LGBTQ+ community.
"We're happy and proud of the LGBTQ+ community's progress over the past 15 years...but we aren't done yet," the Debt Free Guys write. "We've got a lot to take pride in today. Let's be able to have pride in our money."
The Young and the Anxious
Much of this concern rests with the youngest segment of the LGBTQ+ community included in the survey, individuals age 25 to 34:
- 53% of respondents in that age group reported struggling to maintain savings.
- 49% disagreed with the statement "I am in control of my finances" vs. a range of 56% to 58% for those aged 35-64 and 75% for those 65 and up.
- 49% of the 25-to-34-year-olds reported having bad spending habits—a condition that diminishes with remarkable consistency among members of successively older LGBTQ+ age segments.
"Everyone knows the stereotype of ‘keeping up with the Joneses,'" says David Rae, a Los Angeles-based financial planner with a practice focused on the LGBTQ+ community. "Well, there are gay Joneses' too. [For some] having the latest iPhone or iWatch or car or whatever can begin to feel like a necessity."
In a ranking of financial concerns among LGBTQ+ respondents, the top entry, saving for retirement, was cited by 29% of respondents. Paying off debt ranked second, listed by 20% of respondents. Saving for retirement is the biggest financial concern for LGBTQ+ members, but paying off debt is just as big a concern for those 25-34.
The LGBTQ+ community "definitely faces some challenges in retirement," Rae says. "Many don't have children who can help care for them as they get older. Some are also disconnected from their families and cannot count on support from siblings or other relatives."
Digging More Deeply Into Spending Priorities
When asked about the types of goods and activities for which they most wish to set money aside, members of the LGBTQ+ community find it more important than their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts to set aside money for entertainment.
"It boils down to priorities," Rae says. "If you look online at financial planning sites, one of the first things they talk about is saving for kids' college education. Since many [in the LGBTQ+ community] don't have children, they've got way more money to spend on housing or a car or travel."
In responses consistent with their reported anxiety over spending habits, LGBTQ+ respondents in the 25-to-34 and 35-to-44 age rated discretionary spending more important than their older counterparts in a wide variety of categories, including:
- Personal Hygiene
- Health and Fitness
- Clothing
- Hobbies
- Dining Out
- Home Décor
- Charitable Giving
- Drinking and Partying
- Sporting Events
- Other Entertainment
The one exception to this is travel, which LGBTQ+ respondents over 65 prioritized more than any other other age groups. Not surprising since they're more likely to be retired.
Spending Too Much?
Asked about activities on which they feel they overspend: 20% of respondents in both the non-LGBTQ+ and LGBTQ+ populations cited travel, but a significantly larger portion of gay men (26%) reported doing so.
LGBTQ+ respondents in the 25-to-34-year-old age group reported overspending at significantly higher rates than older counterparts in the areas of personal hygiene (26%), clothing (38%) and dining out (53%).
Dining out was named as a significant source of overspending for nearly half (46%) of all LGBTQ+ respondents.
That's a familiar theme to Rae. "Eating is often a matter of going out for a great meal with your friends, not just feeding your family," he says, nothing dining out can be a particularly expensive proposition in urban centers with thriving LGBTQ+ communities.
Credit Card Usage
The survey examined credit card usage among LGBTQ+ respondents age 25 and older, and found the following:
- One-fourth (25%) of LGBTQ+ respondents in the 25-34 age group, and 18% of LGBTQ+ respondents overall have no credit cards in their names.
- Asked to give their main reasons for using credit cards, a majority of LGBTQ+ respondents agreed on two answers:
- 70% reported that they mainly use credit cards to purchase necessities; and
- 55% said they use credit cards to get rewards, including airline miles, hotel stays, and cash back.
- Nearly one-third (32%) of all LGBTQ+ respondents say they use credit cards to improve or build creditworthiness, but half (50%) of LGBTQ+ respondents age 25-34 gave that reason.
These responses are common—69% reported using credit cards to buy needed items, and 53% cited rewards programs as a reason for using credit cards.
Bias and Discrimination in the LGBTQ+ Community
A significant majority (62%) of LGBTQ+ respondents reported having experienced financial challenges because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
These include:
- Discrimination or harassment at work (13%)
- Being passed over for a job or (12%)
- Marriage inequality laws that reduced retirement security for couples (11%)
- Discrimination leading to higher housing costs (11%)
- Lower salary or reduced chance of promotion (10%)
While the U.S. has made significant progress on protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ citizens, employers in the majority of the country are still allowed to fire workers for the simple fact of being gay or transgender.
The Laws Protecting (or Not Protecting) the LGBTQ+ Community
According to Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, a global nonprofit dedicated to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer workplace equality, 28 states allow employers to fire someone for being lesbian, bisexual, or gay, and 30 states allow transgender workers to be fired.
Meanwhile, 22 states and the District of Columbia have laws to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity. You can find a comprehensive list of state laws on LGBTQ+ protections (or lack thereof) here.
Rights for LGBTQ+ workers have taken two big hits recently. The first was President Donald Trump's July 2017 ban on allowing transgender individuals to serve in the U.S. Military, which included an unsubstantiated claim that trans soldiers, sailors, and airmen cause "tremendous medical costs and disruption" in the armed forces. (A federal court ruled in June that the ban cannot be put into action while lawsuits are pending against it.)
In the same month, the Dept. of Justice argued that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibiting workplace discrimination doesn't protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Title VII does ban workplace discrimination based on sex, race, color, national origin and religion, and some federal courts have ruled that it protects LGBTQ+ people.
Despite those political defeats, many major employers welcome LGBTQ+ workers. According to Out & Equal, 92% of Fortune 500 companies protect lesbian, gay and bisexual workers against discrimination based on sexual orientation while 82% have nondiscrimination protections for transgender employees.
What to Do If You Face Discrimination
If you are a victim of discrimination in hiring or in being fired, consult an employment rights attorney right away. If you've been dismissed, try not to sign any severance agreements in the meantime. You'll also need to file a report with your state labor department and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission before taking any legal action, and there are strict time limits for you to act. You can find out how to file a claim here.
Collect and keep as many records as you can, including the names, titles and contact information for any potential witnesses to the discrimination, or other coworkers who were treated unfairly or illegally. Contact local LGBTQ+ rights groups, as well, for support and advice, as well as recommendations for legal representation. You can find resources by state here on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) website.
The best financial defense, however, is often to identify potential employers who not only won't discriminate but will welcome and support LGBTQ+ employees in their workforce. One resource to check out is The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is the business voice of the LGBT community, the largest advocacy organization dedicated to expanding economic opportunities and advancements for LGBT people, and the exclusive certifying body for LGBT-owned businesses.
Check out more articles covering this recent LGBTQ+ survey here:
- 5 Ways the LGBTQ+ Community Can Get More for Their Money
- LGBTQ+ Money Survey Reports 50% Face Financial Challenges Due to Discrimination
Survey Methodology: The data points referenced in this report come from a study commissioned by ConsumerInfo.com, Inc., an Experian company, conducted as an online survey of n=500 adults nationwide who identify as LGBTQ+ and n=500 general population. Interviewing took place from May 22-26, 2018.
