Degrees for Good: Serving the LGBTQIA+ Community

Members of the LGBTQIA+ community often face discrimination and social stigma based on their identities and sexual orientation. And this discrimination can be both personal and institutional: Several states introduced or passed anti-LGBTQ legislation in 2023, like “don’t say gay” laws. The trend of singling out LGBTQIA+ individuals can cause direct harm in their lives, especially when it comes to how they’re treated in the workforce, healthcare settings, housing markets, and educational environments. Living with the effects of this discrimination and stigma can also be detrimental to mental and physical health, but several professional fields can help promote equity:

• Social Work: A social work program — or specifically a master’s in social work — equips you to help others find the necessary resources to overcome mental health and emotional challenges as a result of discrimination and internalized stigma. You can also pursue a specialization in the unique needs of the LGBTQIA+ community.
• Healthcare Administration: Because discrimination toward LGBTQ+ people can lead to a poorer quality of care, our society needs healthcare administrators interested in implementing a standard of care characterized by acceptance and support, not exclusion.
• Education: Almost 60% of LGBTQ+ students report hearing homophobic remarks from teachers or staff, and more than 70% have heard negative comments about gender expression. Students deserve to feel safe and supported in school. With a teaching degree or an education master’s, you can develop classroom environments, curricula, and infrastructure that supports all students.

As we’ve noted, accessing quality healthcare can be a challenge for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Eight percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer people and 29% of trans people reported that a doctor has refused to see them because of orientation or gender identity. Furthermore, research suggests that sexual minority youth are at a higher risk for HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, and other high-risk behaviors. Meanwhile, several states have passed legislation limiting access to gender-affirming medical care.

If you’re interested in helping to reverse these trends, consider earning a degree in:

• Public Health: With a public health degree, you’ll learn to conduct research and reform policies that bridge the gap between current shortcomings and emerging solutions. After graduation, you can be a part of providing better healthcare education and information to the LBTQIA+ community. For leadership roles, consider a master’s in public health.
• Healthcare Administration: Healthcare administrators manage organizations that serve the LGBTQIA+ community alongside the rest of the population. Strong leaders are needed to provide guidelines and accountability for a higher standard of care. With a healthcare administration degree, you can be a part of that solution.
• Social Work: People who comprise the LGBTQIA+ population can often benefit from guidance on advocating for themselves in healthcare. Social workers provide resources and counseling services to people who are trying to understand their own sexual orientations and identities and safely locate the support and care they need.

Having close family and social relationships offers connection and support that helps members of the LGBTQIA+ community deal with the stress and mental health challenges that can come with being part of a minority group. However, many people have difficulty coming out to family members, and if they do, being met with acceptance. Romantic relationships can also be isolating. In addition to the risk of discrimination, many people must navigate partnership, marriage, and parenthood in states without protections for the LGBTQIA+ population. Here are some careers in which you can help by offering support:

• Social Work: With a social work degree, you can become a vital support person for the LGBTQIA+ community. In the absence of family relationships, community support, and protective infrastructure, social workers can connect people with affirming and supportive resources and organizations.
• Counseling: Each unique situation calls for individualized coping skills, and the needs of LGBTQIA+ populations are often overlooked. With a counseling degree, you can specialize in supporting LGBTQIA+ clients as a whole or in a more specific capacity, such as offering LGBTQ marriage counseling.
• Psychology: With your psychology degree, you can support the specific underlying emotional and mental health concerns of members of the LGBTQIA+ community, either as a psychologist or a researcher. Consider specializing in LGBTQIA+ issues, especially those people face as they navigate romantic and familial relationships.

LGBTQIA+ people are at an elevated risk for violence, harassment, and hate crimes. Support for and protection from these types of harm is a dire need. According to UC Merced, members of the LGBTQIA+ community are disproportionately affected by domestic violence, and they experience sexual violence at similar or higher rates than heterosexuals. Recent research suggests that members of the LGBTQIA+ population experience 6.6 violent hate crimes per 1,000 persons, which is disproportionately higher than the crimes committed against non-LGBTQIA+ populations. Consider a degree in the following fields to curb these troublesome trends:

• Social Work: As a social worker, you can provide essential safety services to those in the LGBTQIA+ community. Social workers provide resources for people to recognize, report, and escape from violence or harassment. You can also be an advocate for the development of supportive anti-violence resources within communities.
• Counseling: Counselors help people overcome barriers to better mental health by equipping them with coping mechanisms and strategies for growth. In the LGBTQIA+ community, this can look like helping people recognize or process abuse and its effects on their lives.
• Law: Legal protections for LGBTQIA+ populations are one of the main ways to encourage and enforce measures that protect their safety. With a law degree, you can learn how to create and advocate for equitable environments and offer representation for victims of hate crimes.

The LGBTQIA+ community is more vulnerable to discriminatory legislation and civil rights issues. According to The Center for American Progress, state lawmakers introduced over 300 bills targeting LGBTQIA+ rights in 2022 alone. Compounding the issue, there is no comprehensive federal nondiscrimination law that specifically protects LGBTQIA+ people. In fact, fewer than half of states have created nondiscriminatory legislation at the state level. Earning a degree in one of the following fields is an excellent way to dedicate your career to allyship:

• Public Policy: A master’s in public policy gives you a seat at the table for discussions and decisions surrounding ethics and values. You may find yourself at the forefront of leading change and progress, where you could be an advocate for LGBTQIA+ voices.
• Law: Law is an important industry if you’re interested in contributing to a more equitable society. Choose a pre-law program or law degree with a focus in litigation, human rights, government relations, or in house consulting to gain training you can use to work toward equal rights.
• Communications: A communications degree will teach you how to be an effective communicator and strategist who can develop effective relationships with donors and advocates. After graduation, you can work for organizations and nonprofits to promote awareness and fundraising for LGBTQ-related issues.

According to Gallup, 7.1% of people in the United States identify as LGBTQ. Though that number has slightly increased in the last few years, LGBTQ people remain firmly in the minority. Additionally, some also belong to other marginalized groups, like people of color, immigrants, or people with disabilities. As a result, they may face intersecting forms of discrimination and experience diverse individual lived experiences. With a focus on intersectional challenges, you can help address these unique identities and needs within LGBTQ communities. Consider these majors if you’re interested in this complex topic:

• Nonprofit Administration: With this degree, you’ll be qualified to manage the day-to-day operations of nonprofit organizations. This means you could be charged with raising support and awareness for a particular intersectional group or facilitating partnerships between nonprofits that serve communities.
• Social Work: A social work degreewill equip you to become a vital resource to marginalized people who need support in navigating intersectional issues. As a social worker, you can gain additional qualifications to help you meet specific intersectional community needs.
• Communications: With a communications degree, you’ll become a master of effective messaging, communication, and public relations. These skills are key for facilitating discussion and support for both individual and intersectional minority groups. You might also use your degree to raise awareness and funding for intersectional populations.

Members of the LGBTQ community are at a much higher risk of experiencing mental health issues. The American Psychiatric Association reports that they’re 2.5 times more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and substance misuse than heterosexual individuals. In a recent survey, 41% of LGBTQ youth admitted to considering suicide within the last year. It’s clear that this high-risk population needs access to mental health support and resources, which you could provide with a degree in the following fields:

• Counseling: Counselors are an essential support for mental health, offering coping skills and strategies for their clients. They can also help prevent substance misuse and suicide. To provide direct care, you’ll need a master’s in counseling.
• Psychology: With a master’s in psychology, you can delve into LGBTQ research, mental health challenges, and effective treatment approaches. Alternately, you can become a clinical psychologist and use those frameworks to provide support and diagnoses to clients.
• Social Work: Social workers act as a resource and advocate for their clients. Whether you work with at-risk youth or adult members of the LGBTQ+ population, a social work program prepares you to be an ally and resource for mental health and physical safety for your clients.

Poverty and unemployment are significant concerns for members of the LGBTQIA+ population. According to a recent report from UCLA School of Law’s Williams Institute, 17% of LGBT and 21% of transgender people live in poverty. When you consider LGBT households with children, the percentage living in poverty goes up to 26%. Poverty can snowball into several other issues, including poor mental health, chronic disease, higher mortality rates, malnutrition, and behavioral disorders. Consider these degrees if you’re interested in bolstering the economic security of marginalized populations:

• Social Work: After graduating from a social work program, you’ll have tools to advocate for and assist LGBTQ individuals facing economic insecurity. Social workers are equipped to provide resources that support a more stable environment, including employment training, healthcare, and stable housing assistance.
• Nonprofit Administration: A nonprofit administration degree will prepare you to lead and manage organizations. As a nonprofit administrator, you might raise funds that directly benefit economically insecure people or contribute to development programs and community program resources.
• Public Policy: Pubic policy degrees prepare you to create and influence laws that prioritize economic safety and stability for LGBTQIA+ populations. As a public policy worker, you might advocate for equitable employment, social services funding, or anti-discrimination legislation.