On June 13th, 2024 we recognized LGBTQIA+ Equal Pay Day nationwide, raising awareness of the economic inequities faced by the LGBTQIA+ community in New York and beyond. PowHerNY hosted an online social media hour where we highlighted statements from New York legislators and New York LGBTQIA+ organizations and shared information on the wage gap and solutions. Thank you to all who made the 2024 New York LGBTQIA+ Equal Pay Awareness Day a great success!
This LGBTQIA+ Equal Pay Awareness Day, PowHerNY focused on advocating for the New York Equal Rights Amendment (NY ERA), inclusive paid leave policies, and the expansion of inclusive data collection. The NY ERA would ensure that LGBTQIA+ individuals are explicitly protected from pay discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation, and provide a stronger legal foundation to challenge discriminatory practices that lead to wage disparities. To achieve LGBTQIA+ Equal Pay, we also need inclusive paid leave policies that honor & support all families. Workers in the LGBTQIA+ community are often responsible for caring for chosen family and close friends and need access to paid family leave.
The LGBTQ+ community faces large wage gaps, which are even wider for LGBTQIA+ women, transgender people, and LGBTQ+ people of color.
- LGBTQ+ workers earn about 90 cents for every dollar the typical worker earns.
- Non-binary, genderqueer, genderfluid and two-spirit workers earn about 70 cents for every dollar the typical worker earns.
- Trans men earn 70 cents for every dollar the typical worker earns.
- Trans women earn 60 cents for every dollar the typical worker earns.
- LGBTQ+ Black workers earn 80 cents for every dollar the typical worker earns.
- LGBTQ+ Native American workers earn 70 cents for every dollar the typical worker earns.
- Source: The Wage Gap Among LGBTQ+ Workers in the United States – Human Rights Campaign
Participants and Quotes
New York Attorney General Letitia James
“No one should be discriminated against simply for being who they are. For far too long, the LGBTQIA+ community has faced unjust disparities in the workplace, harming their ability to earn a fair living. Although New York has taken action to close the pay gap, these disparities and blatant discrimination based on gender-identity or sexual orientation persist. We must take clear action against this discrimination, including passing the Equal Rights Amendment to ensure that LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers receive equal pay for equal work. I thank Bev Neufeld and PowHer for their tireless work to level the playing field for all New Yorkers.”
New York State Senator Nathalia Fernandez
“Despite progress in closing the pay gap, LGBTQIA+ individuals, particularly transgender people, still face significant economic disparities in poverty, housing, and workplace discrimination. The lack of comprehensive wage gap data for LGBTQIA+ communities hampers our efforts to address these issues effectively. I strongly support the New York Equal Rights Amendment (NY ERA) which explicitly protects LGBTQIA+ individuals from discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. I will always be committed to advancing policies that promote economic justice and ensure every New Yorker has the opportunity to thrive.”
New York Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes
“Pay inequality is an insidious form of discrimination. It perpetuates cycles of poverty, emotional distress, and even violence that are difficult to break, especially for people of color who identify as LGBTQ+. To build strong families, healthy communities, and resilient individuals, we must root out economic disparities, no matter how they present.”
New York Assembly Member Harry Bronson
New York Assembly Member Rebecca A. Seawright
“LGBTQ+ New Yorkers face disparities in poverty, housing, and workplace discrimination. If we sincerely commit to equal pay for equal work, then we must target these inequities at their source. The NYS Equal Rights Amendment, which I introduced as its Assembly Lead Sponsor, would ensure wage parity between New Yorkers, no matter who they love.”
New York Assembly Member Linda B. Rosenthal
“How a person identifies or who they love should never be a basis for job discrimination. We must be resolute in our efforts to ensure all New Yorkers are granted the protections they need in and out of the workplace,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF – Manhattan), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Housing. “Despite how far we have come in the fight for equal rights, LGBTQIA+ people continue to face discrimination in the workplace, putting them at greater risk of homelessness and poverty. The economic security of transgender and non-binary workers is particularly at risk, with more than one in ten nationwide reporting that they have lost their job because of their gender identity or expression. With the help of PowHerNY, we can achieve equal pay for all by enacting the New York Equal Rights Amendment to protect LGBTQIA+ people and others from persistent wage disparities and discrimination.”
New York Assembly Member Chris Burdick
“Here in NY, we have been making strides toward a more equitable state. However, LGBTQIA+ individuals are still struggling with equal pay. Members of this community are more likely to need to care for a close friend or chosen family member without access to paid leave. They experience higher rates of poverty, homelessness and unemployment. Transgender people of color are especially vulnerable. Stability and financial security shouldn’t be dependent upon your gender identity or sexual orientation.”
NYC Chief Equity Officer and Commissioner Sideya Sherman
“LGBTQIA+ Equal Pay Awareness Day raises awareness about the lack of wage-gap data about LGBTQIA+ workers and the critical need for us to better understand their economic well-being. Ongoing discrimination of LGBTQ+ workers leads to disparities in pay that deepen along racial and gender lines. Now more than ever, we must raise awareness and ensure strong workplace protections to support hiring, advancement, retention, and equitable pay for LGBTQ+ workers.”
New York City Council Member Crystal Hudson
“There continues to be a dire need to pursue long-lasting solutions to achieve economic justice and equity for LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers. We can no longer accept incremental ‘wins’ only to have to come back and ask for more. Pay equity extends beyond the workplace. It means ensuring our city’s LGBTQIA+ communities can live with dignity. It means growing our affordable housing stock. It means guaranteeing health care. And it means expanding access to good paying jobs. As co-Chair of the Council’s LGBTQIA+ Caucus I was proud to lead in the creation of The Marsha & Sylvia Plan––the first-ever comprehensive legislative agenda tailored to address the material needs of LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers. This Council has the opportunity now, to flip the script, challenge the status quo, and make sure policies advancing pay parity are not only comprehensive, but permanent in our larger struggle for justice.”
New York City Council Member Lynn Schulman
“Achieving economic equity for New York’s LGBTQIA+ community demands a united and comprehensive effort. Supporting the New York Equal Rights Amendment to explicitly protect against pay discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation is a crucial step. The Council is proud of the Marsha & Sylvia Plan, which offers a vital framework for addressing systemic issues and securing necessary resources across sectors. By pursuing equal pay, affordable housing, and inclusive workplaces, we advance economic justice intertwined with broader social justice efforts. Together, we can make New York a beacon of inclusivity and fairness for all residents.”
New York City Council Member Althea Stevens
“We often overlook the critical issue of the pay disparity for the LGBTQIA+ community, but it’s time to bring it to the forefront. Let’s stand in solidarity, as everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive without the burden of financial insecurity. As Chair of the Committee on Children and Youth, I am committed to ensuring that our policies support and protect the most vulnerable among us, and that includes fighting for equal pay for the LGBTQIA+ community.”
New York City Council Member Shahana Hanif
“We know that LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers experience higher rates of discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Beyond that, already existing pay gaps are only widened when race, sexuality, and gender identity discrimination are combined. This is why we need to pass The New York Equal Rights Amendment so we can guarantee constitutional protection against pay discrimination for LGBTQIA+ communities, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. As Council Member, I am committed to working toward stronger protections for the LGBTQIA+ community.”
NEW Pride Agenda Executive Director, Elisa Crespo
“The Wage Gap among LGBTQ+ New Yorkers is real and we must take bold action to create pathways to gainful and equitable wages for the Queer and Trans community. Despite efforts to close gaps among marginalized communities, LGBTQ+ people continue to experience disparities in poverty, housing and employment. New York City should be leading the way in creating innovative and cutting edge economic mobility strategies that will improve the quality of life of our city’s most vulnerable – including Queer and Trans New Yorkers.”
New York City Commission on Gender Equity, Jennifer Barnes-Balenciaga
Westchester Women’s Agenda, Sam Merkt (quote) and Ayanna (video)
“I’m proud to advocate for passing the NY ERA, getting us one step closer to ensuring that LGBTQ+ people are protected against discrimination. We know that LGBTQ+ folks, especially Black and brown trans and non-binary people, face discrimination. This is made obvious by the wage gap, where non-binary, two-spirit, genderqueer, and transmen earn only 70 cent for every dollar that the typical worker earns. Sadly, those statistics are even more dire for trans women, earning only 60 cents for every dollar. Economic parity provides safety and security, something everyone deserves. Let’s pass the NY ERA!”