LGBTQ Are Canadians Too

          There is very little information gathered regarding the LGBTQ community and poverty. The Canadian census provides us with enough knowledge through existing data to understand the impact of poverty in same-sex households, but little is known concerning the numbers of families in which reflect lesbian and gay relationships.  Statistics Canada provides us with the knowledge of 45, 300 same-sex couples living in Canada in 2006, with only 1% of Canadians identifying themselves as gay or lesbian (Stats Canada, 2011).  Although these statistics include the number of single LGBTQ living in Canada, it does not provide us with those who do not identify themselves as living in same-sex households (Queers for Economic Justice, 2012).  Research must be gathered concerning these LGBTQ communities, as their population is estimated to consist of 2 to 3% of all Canadians (Ryan, 2003).  Poverty is a pressing issue existing across Canada that must be resolved. 

          In 2004, 11.2% of all Canadians were living in poverty, marking 3.4 million of its entire population (CCSD, 2006).   In total, 684, 000 Canadian families were living below the poverty line at this time at a rate of 7.8% (CCSD, 2006).  The LGBTQ community suffers from poverty at alarming rates lower than that of various other Canadian populations.   Among these matters is the pressing issue of low-income, same-sex families.  Lesbian couple households are among those who are most likely to be poor within Canada (Ryan, 2003).  Lesbian families have a 14% rate of low income compared to the 11% of those in gay households (Ryan, 2003). Statistics show that 81% of gay men reside below the low-income cut off, with only 65% of heterosexual men (Ryan, 2003).  Gay men and lesbian incomes were described to be lower than that of heterosexual men, both in personal and household income (Ryan, 2003).  When comparing these statistics, it indeed shows us that poverty is gender-based.  Another population under pressure of low-income becomes transgendered families.  Canada’s transgendered population is among those of the least employed (Bauer et al, 2010).  A study of 443 transgender individuals living and working within Ontario suggests that 50% received an income lower than 15, 000 dollars per year, with only 7% receiving over 80, 000 dollars annually (Bauer et al, 2010).  This result can be linked to the amount of LGBTQ employees discriminated in the workplace.  The majority of LGBTQ felt denied employment due to discrimination, and if were working felt underemployed and denied career advancement possibilities (Ryan, 2003). 

          Although there are no accurate statistics of Canada’s homeless population, Canada’s National Secretariat on Homelessness has estimated that approximately 150,000 Canadians face the hardships of homelessness (Echenberg & Jensen, 2008).  The cause of homelessness is identified through a wide range of factors, among those the cost of housing and lack of adequate income (Echenberg et al, 2008).  In 2006, 11.9% of all Canadians were described as living below the poverty line, along with the majority of welfare income families.  Since 1990, the Canadian government has continued to decrease funding for housing and related programs (Echenberg et al, 2008). Homelessness becomes another pressing issue among the branches of poverty that greatly impacts the Canadian LGBTQ community (Ryan, 2003).  The LGBTQ community believes that sexual orientation is a major factor that contributes to homelessness, because of homophobic rejection (Ryan, 2003).  Being that most homeless shelters segregate by birth sex regardless of gender identity, most of the homeless transgender population is often ignored by such agencies (QEJ, 2012).  Because of this reason, studies suggest that 1 in 5 transgender individuals need shelter assistance (QEJ, 2012). 

          Although it is not the fact of poverty alone that demonstrates any given ideology, it becomes about understanding which policies remain in place to address the issue of poverty within Canada.  By gathering these statistics, it can be summed up that we Canadians live under the ideological perspective of a Neoconservative government.    As stated before, government funding continues to be cut for use in welfare areas such as affordable housing and social assistance (Echenberg et al, 2008).  By looking at what little research I could find, I have discovered the absence of government support for those members of the LGBTQ community in even greater amounts than that of the general Canadian population.  The neoconservative ideology bluntly believes individuals suffering from poverty have only themselves to blame, being lazy and stupid (Drury, 1997).  This explains the lack of understanding and support for the LGBTQ community who are unable to receive or keep jobs due to homophobic rejection and workplace discrimination.  I would understand that neoconservatism would consider this a fault of the LGBTQ community itself, as they cannot provide their own adequate income.  The neoconservative ideology stresses that equality of opportunity is already reality, thus explaining its hostility towards the welfare state (Drury, 1997).  I believe that neoconservatists would refuse to develop social assistance programs for those in the LGBTQ community unable to find work, even though it lies beyond the LGBTQ community’s control.  Finally, the neoconservatist ideology favours nuclear families.  These families consist of heterosexual couple households.  This suggests that neoconservatists prefer heterosexism and offers the notion of homophobia. 

          The Canadian government is a governmental structure put in place for the benefits, well-being and union of a nation-wide community.  However, our Neconservative government does not pursue this case.  It is understood that the Neoconservatist ideology believes in inequality, so we cannot expect the ideological backing of our government to support all individuals within our country (Drury, 1997).  I believe Canada’s political structure needs to pursue an ideological analysis that favours the inspection and prevention of social problems.  If all Canadians wish to be considered equal, than why is it not so?  Aren’t members of the LGBTQ community Canadians too?

 

-  Kara

References:

(CCSD) Canadian Council on Social Development.  (2006).  “A Profile of Economic Security in Canada: Poverty.”  Stats and Facts Canada.  Retrieved from http://www.ccsd.ca/factsheets/economic_security/poverty/index.htm.

Bauer, G., Boyce, M., Coleman, T., Kaay, M., Scanlon, K. & Travers, R.  (2010, July 6).  “Who are Trans People in Ontario?”  Trans Pulse:  Building Communities through Research.  Retrieved from http://transpulseproject.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/E1English.pdf.

Ryan, B.  (2003).  “A New Look at Homophobia and Heterosexism in Canada.”  Canadian Aids Society.  Retrieved from http://www.cdnaids.ca/files.nsf/pages/homophobiareport_eng/$file/homophobia%20report_eng.pdf.

Statistics Canada.  (2011, July 14).  “Gay Pride, by the Numbers.”  Statistics Canada.  Retrieved from http://www42.statcan.gc.ca/smr08/2011/smr08_158_2011-eng.htm.

Echenberg H. & Jensen, H.  (2009, February 2).  “Risk Factors for Homelessness.”  Library of Parliament Research Publications, Parliament of Canada.  Retrieved from http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ResearchPublications/prb0851-e.htm.

Author unknown, QEJ.  “Tidal Wave:  LGBT Poverty and Hardship in a Time of Economic Crisis.”  Queers for Economic Justice.  Retrieved from http://www.q4ej.org/Documents/qejtidalwave.pdf.

Drury, S.  (1997, May 17).  “Demise of the Tory Tradition:  Conservatives have forgotten their debt to the poor.”  University of Regina, Faculty of the Arts.  Retrieved from http://phil.uregina.ca/CRC/herald_demise.html.