LGBTQ-Parent Families in the United States and Economic Well-Being

This chapter offers an examination of the research on the economic well-being of LGBTQ-parent families in the United States. It focuses on four key measures in large, nationally representative datasets: (a) household income, (b) poverty rates, (c) food insecurity, and (d) public benefits receipt. While there is economic diversity within the LGBTQ-parent community, research across these four measures consistently shows that LGBTQ-parent families report lower overall household incomes, higher rates of poverty, increased food insecurity, and greater receipt of public assistance than both non-LGBTQ parents and their families and LGBTQ people who are not parents. The chapter also reviews potential reasons for these consistent findings and offers directions for future research that are crucial for ensuring that LGBTQ-parent families can thrive.