For a couple of decades, the line has been that LGBT consumers earn more than straight people.
But some academics are poking holes in that cliche. One of them is Dr. Lee Badgett (above), whose work has consistently proved that we struggle or succeed pretty much like anyone else.
And as she told a roomful of students at University of Illinois in Chicago last week, LGBT people may have limited support systems. They may be estranged from their families, which traditionally provide support in times of recession. This puts them at a high risk of poverty should they lose their jobs.
Yes, because many gay people are single or do not have children, they may have extra discretionary income. But overall, we like the fact that Badgett keeps presenting a more balanced picture ofwhat LGBT America is like – even if it’s not always what we want to hear.
More at ChicagoFlame, the university’s daily newspaper.
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