Celebrating Pride Month
The month of June is recognized as Pride month, when we celebrate the identities and diversity of those who belong to the LGBTQ+ community. We also acknowledge the importance of visibility and representation for this community. At 50/50 Leadership, we are committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. We are proud to support LGBTQ+ individuals in celebrating Pride month, and we stand in solidarity for future efforts of the LGBTQ+ community.
In celebrating Pride and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community, we recognize the discrimination that LGBTQ+ individuals have faced throughout history. LGBTQ+ individuals have faced global discrimination and marginalization for centuries. Throughout the twentieth century in the United States, state and federal law criminalized, institutionalized, and sanctioned economic and social discrimination against those who identified as LGBTQ+. In June of 1969, the Stonewall Riots, also known as the Stonewall Uprising, served as a turning point in the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the United States. Finally, after a long history of activism and advocacy by members of the LGBTQ+ community, the Supreme Court of the United States legalized gay marriage in 2015. Yet, the road to equality and inclusion for LGBTQ+ individuals in the United States and abroad remains long and uncertain.
It is important to acknowledge the current discrimination that LGBTQ+ individuals face in the United States, particularly in the financial services sector. According to a survey of 1,000 LGBTQ+ adults conducted by the National Endowment for Financial Education in 2022, roughly 30% reported experiencing bias, discrimination, or exclusion in financial services. LGBTQ+ individuals may experience reduced access to capital, credit, and other financial products. This barrier to financial services hinders LGBTQ+ individuals from building wealth. Financial literacy and access to resources are key to closing this gap, and organizations such as 50/50 Leadership are working to provide education and services to empower the LGBTQ+ community.
Those who identify as LGBTQ+ can benefit from building community with the organizations and community members who provide services specifically to LGBTQ+ individuals. Here are some resources in Los Angeles for LGBTQ+ youth and adults:
Los Angeles LGBT Center: https://lalgbtcenter.org/
Reach LA: https://www.reachla.info/
Bienestar: https://www.bienestar.org/
At 50/50 Leadership, we provide financial literacy training to women who have been incarcerated or unhoused, aged out of the foster care system, or experienced gender-based violence. This includes members of the LGBTQ+ community who identify as female. If you believe you are eligible for our course, please email us at info@5050leadership.org.
