Every person has an equal right to live, love and be free from poverty. Yet worldwide, too many vulnerable communities are disproportionately held back — including, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI) community.
Data is limited — but what we do have shows a shocking global disparity. A young person born LGBTI has more than a 50% chance of being bullied at school — with one in three skipping class or dropping out altogether. And when he or she grows up, it will be harder to find and keep a job, with LGBTI people consistently excluded from the workforce, inhibiting them from social inclusion and economic mobility.
Meanwhile transgender women are almost 50 times more likely to be living with HIV than the general population — yet evidence suggests LGBTI people are more likely to be denied basic services like healthcare.
All of this adds up to a horrific reality: if you examine average global incomes, the World Bank suggests LGBTI people are more likely to fall into the lowest 40%. This is not fair, or right.
The world must step up and ensure we leave no one behind — including the LGBTI community — in our fight to end extreme poverty. But the fight starts with education: take the quiz to learn more.