The Economic Case for LGBT Equality: Why Fair and Equal Treatment Benefits Us All (Queer Action/Queer Ideas)

An economist demonstrates how LGBT equality and inclusion within organizations increases their bottom line and allows for countries’ economies to flourish We know that homophobia harms LGBT individuals in many ways, but economist M. V. Lee Badgett argues that in addition to moral and human rights reasons for equality, we can now also make a financial argument. Finding that homophobia and transphobia cost 1% or more of a country’s GDP, Badgett expertly uses recent research and statistics to analyze how these hostile practices and environments affect both the US and global economies. LGBT equality remains a persistent and pertinent issue. The continued passing of discriminatory laws, people being fired from jobs for their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, harassment and bullying in school, violence and hate crimes on the streets, exclusion from intolerant families, and health effects of stigma all make it incredibly difficult to live a good life. Examining the consequences of anti-LGBT practices across multiple countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, India and the Philippines, Badgett reveals the expensive repercussions of hate and discrimination, and how our economy loses when we miss out on the full benefit of LGBT people’s potential contributions. "Badgett offers some new ways of thinking to convert the many people who use their power to hurt LGBT people, whether in passing discriminatory laws, firing them from jobs, harassing them in school, beating them on the streets, failing to protect them from beatings, kicking them out of families, or depriving them of appropriate health care-in short, in excluding them from the core institutions that make it possible to live a good life. Understanding the economic cost of that homophobia and transphobia gives activists, businesses, development agencies, and policymakers a new tool that can help change lives"-- Provided by publisher Homophobia and transphobia cost 1% or more of a country's GDP. Badgett uses recent research and statistics to analyze how these hostile practices and environments affect both the US and global economies. She offers some new ways of thinking to convert the many people who use their power to hurt LGBT people, by excluding them from the core institutions that make it possible to live a good life. Understanding the economic cost of that homophobia and transphobia gives activists, businesses, development agencies, and policymakers a new tool that can help change lives. -- adapted from jacket and publisher info