Economic Rights, Economic Myths, and Economic Realities

Summary

Although the myth is that gay and lesbian people, especially gay men, are affluent and are faring well in the workplace, research shows that they in fact experience wage discrimination and lack many other fundamental rights related to employment. This article reviews the literature addressing gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgend-ered people as workers, showing the ways in which their economic rights are still compromised in the United States today. The social work profession must understand these realities and seek ways to address them.

Key Words:

• Gays
• lesbians
• economic myths
• economic rights
• employment
• wage discrimination
• employment benefits
• gay rights
• social work