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Up Front, Summer 2024
Coming Out and Finding Acceptance
A new Gallup survey of LGBTQ+ adults shows that our community is coming out nearly a decade earlier than past generations.
The median coming out age for LGBTQ+ adults ages 18-20 was 17, compared to 26 for LGBTQ+ adults ages 65 and older. Most think that acceptance in the U.S. has improved compared to 10 years ago. These results show the decades-long progress our community has made by showing up and fighting for equality and acceptance.
Help protect the progress — find ways to show up with HRC at linkin.bio/humanrightscampaign.
Advocacy Through the Workplace
No matter where you live or work, in red states or blue states, in big cities or small towns, you can be part of the movement to advance the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. In the workplace, employees can engage in internal workplace advocacy by advocating for changes to internal policies and programs to build LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality within the walls of your company. You can find step-by-step instructions on how to do this in the HRC Foundation’s new Advocacy 101 Guide, which expands on findings in the LGBTQ+ Corporate Citizen report, which was released earlier this year.
The guide includes insight across a variety of engagement strategies, including building and executing an advocacy plan, ways to advocate, and activating your employer. You will find a five-step roadmap for establishing and achieving your advocacy goals as well as common ways that individuals advocate for policy change so that you can find what works for you. Once you start, find ways to lean in where you can. If you are advocating once a year, consider increasing it to once a month, and so on. Find your pace and level of comfort, and then explore new ways to get involved.
Learn more at hrc.im/advocacy101.
Spotlight on HBCU Student Leaders
For nearly 20 years, the HRC Foundation’s HBCU Program has engaged with hundreds of LGBTQ+ students through its annual Student Leadership Summits, creating unique spaces and learning opportunities for HBCU students who want to make change for LGBTQ+ students on their campuses and beyond as they move into higher levels of leadership and advocacy.
These dynamic students, including Asia Rogers (she/they) and Tyler Vazquez (he/him), are now putting their leadership skills and passion to work.
Rogers, the student government association vice president at Bennett College, talks about answering the call to serve in leadership roles.
“As a queer person, I have always felt that I need to be the change that I wish to seek within the spaces that I occupy and create,” Rogers said. “Being out and proud on my HBCU campus while also taking on roles of leadership is one of the ways that I am doing that.”
Vazquez, a student trustee at Tennessee State University, is forever grateful for the connections he has made through the HRC Foundation’s HBCU Program.
“The HRC Foundation's HBCU program has been essential in creating connections, passions, and futures for LGBTQ+ HBCU leaders,” said Vazquez. “This safe space of camaraderie, encouragement, and love held me to a higher standard that I am forever grateful for.”
Learn more about Rogers, Vazquez and other HBCU Leaders.
Understanding Disability Among LGBTQ+ Youth
Did you know that as many as 30% of LGBTQ+ youth have been diagnosed with at least one disability? Young folks can experience complications with everyday tasks and functions, yet remain joyful, productive and prideful.
During Disability Pride Month in July, the HRC Foundation launched its 2024 Disabled LGBTQ+ Youth Report, providing an overview of the experiences of the approximately 3,100 youth surveyed HRC and the University of Connecticut who had been diagnosed with a disability, of which the vast majority were transgender and gender-expansive.
Results reveal that, though disabled LGBTQ+ youth may face unique challenges and stressors from their non-disabled LGBTQ+ (and cisgender and straight) peers, the vast majority live joyful, full lives, and are proud of their identity.
The report also shares actionable guidelines to help guide parents, caregivers, school administrators, educators, counselors and other youth-serving professionals on how they can support disabled LGBTQ+ youth.
Learn more in the 2024 Disabled LGBTQ+ Youth Report.
Caring for LGBTQ+ Older Adults
The 2025 Long-Term Care Equality Index Survey is now open through late November 2024. But what is the LEI and why do we need it?
Without federal protections, LGBTQ+ seniors continue to face discrimination across all areas of life, including in long-term care and senior housing. Since 2021, the HRC Foundation and SAGE have partnered on a benchmarking tool, the LEI, to help make facilities and communities more inclusive and welcoming to LGBTQ+ older adults. With free resources, technical assistance and a biennial survey, the LEI helps communities implement, strengthen, and innovate their LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts with residents, visitors and staff. The LEI report formally recognizes communities leading in LGBTQ+ inclusion.
The full report will be published in May 2025. To get started, interested long-term care and senior housing providers can sign the Commitment to Caring pledge.
