Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth transitioning out of foster care face greater career and nutritional challenges than their heterosexual peers.
That is according to a new report put out by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The report—"Economic Well-Being of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care"—looks at data on 591 young people in Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois who have aged out of foster care. The study shows that while LGB youth face many of the same obstacles as heterosexuals entering adulthood, they face added hurdles.
According to the report, differences in LGB foster care youth have not previously been studied. It is not known what percentage of foster care youth are LGB.
But those who are may face additional challenges as they head into adulthood.
The report notes harassment, discrimination and violence facing LGB youth. Studies have also found that queer youth in foster care experience more housing placement changes than their straight peers.
After leaving foster care, LGB youth who were interviewed made less money, had more economic struggles and experienced a greater scarcity of food than their straight peers.
LGB and heterosexual adults reported similar employment numbers, but of those employed LGB respondents made significantly less money. LGB participants made $7.82 an hour on average. Heterosexual respondents were paid $9.04 on average.
Sixty-one percent of LGB adults reported trouble paying their rent or utility bills, compared with 47 percent among straight respondents.
Both groups reported similar numbers in homelessness and education, among other things.
But overall, the report concludes, the study raises questions about LGB people aging out of the system.
"This analysis suggests that LGB youth aging out of foster care may be at significant risk for not achieving self-sufficiency as they transition into adulthood," the report states.
The report looks at data from the "Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functions of Former Foster Youth." The report does not include transgender youth, it notes, because the evaluation only recently started asking if youth identified as transgender. The University of Chicago, the University of Wisconsin and a group of Midwestern agencies put out the evaluation.
