State-Level LGBTQ + Policies and Experiences of Interpersonal Discrimination among Sexual and Gender Minority People

• Published in: Population research and policy review Vol. 43; no. 5; p. 68
• Main Authors: Bates, Alex J., Kamp Dush, Claire M., Manning, Wendy D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.10.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bisexuality; Cisgender; Demography; Discrimination; Gender; Gender aspects; Gender identity; Gender relations; Heterosexuality; Lesbianism; LGBTQ people; Minority groups; Non-binary gender; Policies; Population Economics; Population policy; Regression models; Research Briefs; Respondents; Sex discrimination; Sexual orientation; Sexuality; Social Sciences; Sociology; State policy; Statistical analysis; Transgender persons; Policy; Perceived Discrimination; Sexual and Gender Minorities
• ISSN: 0167-5923; 1573-7829
• DOI: 10.1007/s11113-024-09907-1

Objectives To quantify the role of state-level lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+)-related policies on experiences of discrimination in a population-representative sample of partnered individuals. Methods An adjusted multilevel random-intercept logistic regression model with individuals (level-1) nested within states (level-2) and a cross-level interaction term between gender/sexual identity and policy score was used to estimate the predicted probability of any experiences of discrimination for cisgender heterosexual, transgender and non-binary, and cisgender sexual minority respondents. Results Experiences of discrimination in the past month were more common amongst transgender and non-binary (90.2%) respondents compared to their cisgender sexual minority (74.0%) or cisgender heterosexual (73.2%) counterparts. When compared to cisgender heterosexual respondents, the interaction term was found to be statistically significant for only transgender and non-binary (OR = 0.93, 95% CI [0.88, 0.98]) but not cisgender sexual minority respondents (OR = 0.99, 95% CI [0.97, 1.01]). Indicating that as state policy environments became more protective the odds of experiencing discrimination decreased at a more substantial rate for transgender and non-binary respondents when compared to cisgender sexual minority or cisgender heterosexual respondents. Conclusions Transgender and non-binary individuals experience more discrimination compared to their cisgender sexual minority or cisgender heterosexual counterparts. State-level LGBTQ + policy protections amplified the relationship between gender identity and experiences of discrimination.