Happy Nanaimo Pride Weekend!
Sadly, due to discrimination, lack of access to safe schooling, youth experiencing rejection from family members, barriers in housing, and many more challenges, LGBTQ2SIA+ community members in Nanaimo and elsewhere have a much higher incidence of living in poverty.
In January 2024, Statistics Canada released data that showed that 18.4% of LGBTQIA2S+ people aged 25 to 64 years were in the lowest income bracket, compared to only 13.5% of non-LGBTQIA2S+people.
Also, LGBTQIA2S+ youth are much more likely to experience homelessness. One study concluded that approximately 40% of homeless youth identified as LGBTQIA2S+.
Finally, transgender and non-binary people are more likely to experience poverty than cisgender people. In 2020, the poverty rate among transgender women was 12.0% and 12.9% for transgender men. Compare these rates to poverty rates for cisgender women (7.9%) and cisgender men (8.2%). (Statistics Canada – 2021 Census)
We have a long way to go to improve financial circumstances and supports for the queer community.
Poverty Advocacy Nanaimo 