In the heart of Spokane, Wash., a state often lauded for its progressive values, Jacob Knight’s classroom became a battleground. His crime? Coming out as gay.

Once celebrated as the “young, straight male teacher,” Knight’s revelation sparked a firestorm of parental complaints and district investigations. The ensuing ordeal, marked by discrimination and stress, pushed him to the brink of depression and ultimately forced his resignation. Knight’s story is a stark reminder that even in seemingly welcoming environments, LGBTQ individuals can face hostility and prejudice in the workplace.

Nearly half of LGBTQ workers worldwide grapple with depression, according to a new report by myGwork, a global networking hub and job board for LGBTQ professionals.

As of today, Knight is still on the payroll per the agreement until his resignation date at the end of the month. He reports not regretting taking the deal, and is open to teaching again in a much supportive environment.

Knight’s story is just one example of the complex challenges faced by queer workers across America, who often find themselves navigating a precarious landscape of discrimination, mental health struggles, and economic instability. LGBTQ employees of color have been more likely to report being denied jobs and verbal harassment, according to the UCLA Williams Institute report on workplace discrimination from 2021.

Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused a devastating and sharp dwindle to the world’s economic activity due to a great number of job losses. Public policy research and advocacy organization Center for American Progress (CAP) found that amidst the labor market following the pandemic, transgender people faced the brunt of the impact, with LGBTQ folks of color as the second most impacted.

Earlier this month, a white trans woman named Stefanie Newell told The New York Times about her move out of San Antonio, Tx. to live in Denver, Colo. Her mission was simple: leave the anti-trans hostility of Texas and live in a safer state. What she didn’t anticipate was having her income get close to the negatives trying to afford the cost of living in Denver, which she admitted gets close from time to time.

This year’s anti-trans legislation landscape in the U.S. aside, 2023 had been the worst of it with 615 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced on the legislative floor. Leading with 69 bills was Texas, from educational censorship to gender-affirming care and public restroom usage.

Newell’s testimony was a drop in the water of many LGBTQ people seeking refuge in safer states, but at a steep cost.

In addition, the economic storm, characterized by soaring inflation and stagnant wages, has hit all Americans hard, with cost of living being the most important issue among young disheartened voters. But LGBTQ+ communities are disproportionately affected due to existing disparities in employment, housing, and healthcare. These economic hardships exacerbate the already precarious financial situations faced by many LGBTQ+ individuals, pushing them further into poverty and instability.

Despite facing discrimination and a challenging economic landscape, LGBTQ+ workers are forging diverse career paths to secure their livelihoods and well-being.

Sex work: A lifeline and a struggle

For many within the LGBTQ community, sex work is more than a means of survival; it’s a complex and often misunderstood profession offering financial independence in the face of systemic discrimination.

There is limited comprehensive data on recent trends in sex work participation among LGBTQ+ individuals specifically due to the nature of the industry and the stigma associated with it. However, a 2023 report from California highlights that the war on sex work places BIPOC people in harm as the fight for decriminalizing sex work continues to trudge.

Meanwhile, some studies have suggested an increase in demand for sex work during economic downturns, as people seek ways to cope with stress and financial strain. According to a 2021 “National Transgender Discrimination Survey,” about 13% of transgender people in the U.S. have participated in the sex industry, with numbers rising upwards of 44% for Black trans women.

A recent study published in Transgender Health found that 42% of young trans women have engaged in sex work, primarily escorting, citing “better pay” and lack of employment opportunities due to discrimination as key motivators. However, the study also revealed the mental health toll, with 50% of participants experiencing anxiety and depression.

Addison Laczkowski, a case manager at Cecilia’s Occupational Inclusion Network (COIN), a program at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in New York City, emphasizes the emotional labor, irregular hours, and financial instability inherent in sex work.

“[Sex work] requires a lot of intense emotional labor, irregular work hours and a lot of financial instability and fluctuation, often happening in isolation,” said Laczkowski, who is trans and nonbinary. “You’re also dealing with emotional impacts of working while you’re closeted: maybe while working to afford certain gender affirming surgeries, you might not be having the types of sex that align with your preferences in your personal life.”

Sex work also carries significant legal risks. In a 2015 study, National Center for Trans Equality found that 47%, trans people of color were more than twice as likely than their white counterparts (18%).

In New York City, the challenges faced by trans women of color involved in sex work are compounded by immigration status. Mateo Guerrero, trans justice and leadership program manager at Make the Road NY, highlights the struggles faced by undocumented trans women trying to secure stable housing and employment under Mayor Eric Adams’ “Right to Shelter” policy. This 2024 policy, Guerrero argues, creates a harmful cycle for those who need more time to find work, especially marginalized individuals facing discrimination.

“His whole thing is that immigrants are to blame for what’s happening to themselves, and that we shouldn’t be responsible for them,” Guerrero explained.

Transgender women, particularly trans women of color, face disproportionately high rates of violence and murder. According to the Human Rights Campaign, 2021 was the deadliest year on record for transgender and gender non-conforming people in the United States, with the majority of victims being Black and Latinx trans women.

Sex work is not immune to the risk of violence for trans women in this career. The National Center for Transgender Equality’s “2015 U.S. Transgender Survey” found that transgender people who have engaged in sex work are more likely to experience physical and sexual assault compared to those who haven’t. Additionally, the stigma and criminalization of sex work often deter trans women from seeking help or reporting violence to the authorities.

The intersection of transphobia, racism, and the criminalization of sex work creates a dangerous environment for many trans women, particularly those of color who are often pushed to the margins of society and forced to rely on underground economies for survival.

It’s undeniable that the disproportionate targeting of trans women of color by anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and their overrepresentation in sex work are inextricably linked. It’s worth noting, however, that many sex workers enjoy their careers, as it offers a level of control, autonomy that mainstream jobs can’t provide, especially for those who are already marginalized by the labor market.

Freelancing: Freedom and flexibility, but at what cost?

By the end of last year, freelance marketplace UpWork released a report, finding that freelancers of all ages now make up 38% of the workforce in the U.S.

COVID-19 is reported to have majorly changed the freelancing landscape. Emergent Research and MBO Partners’s study from earlier this year that the pandemic boosted 90% more full-time freelancers, with a 130% increase in people taking on side gigs.

The freelance creative world offers LGBTQ+ individuals a haven where they can express their artistry and control their work environment. The flexibility of freelancing allows them to navigate a job market that can be unwelcoming to non-traditional work structures. However, this autonomy comes with challenges.

Queer entrepreneur Dana Miranda, a staunch advocate for LGBTQ+ self-employment, highlights the benefits in a 2022 essay for I Like to Dabble: “As a contract worker, you can get gigs without an education requirement, a resume or an interview. You get hired on the merits of your work and—with clients doing things properly — don’t have to jump through the kinds of hoops you’d face trying to land a typical job.”

Moreover, freelancing often enables remote work, opening up opportunities with clients globally. This is especially crucial for LGBTQ+ individuals living in hostile environments, such as Oklahoma, Missouri, or South Carolina, which have seen a surge in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation this year.

“Working for yourself gives you the privilege of choosing whether and when to come out to people you work with—and a lot of flexibility in who those people are,” Miranda wrote. “That can mean finding safety, comfort and job security that might not otherwise be available for you.”

Yet, the freelance path is not without its pitfalls. Irregular income, the constant need to find new clients, and the lack of traditional benefits like health insurance can create financial instability and stress. Freelancing requires a delicate balance between creative freedom and the realities of economic survival.

Hospitality & service: A double-edged sword

The hospitality and service industries–jobs like waitressing, bartending, hairstyling, housekeeping, catering–with their constant demand for workers, offer a readily available entry point for many LGBTQ+ individuals seeking employment.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects over half a million new jobs in food service alone by 2032. However, these positions often come with low wages, unpredictable hours, and the potential for customer harassment, creating a precarious situation for those seeking stable and affirming work environments.

Despite these challenges, the industry also boasts a high concentration of LGBTQ+ employees. According to a 2022 One Fair Wage study, nearly one in five hospitality workers identify as LGBTQ+, double the national average. Some chains, like Domino’s, PF Chang’s, and Shake Shack, have even been recognized as top places to work for LGBTQ+ individuals by Nation’s Restaurant News.

However, instances of discrimination persist. Last June, Starbucks faced employee walkouts after managers removed Pride merchandise following customer complaints. Such incidents highlight the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ inclusion and acceptance, even within seemingly welcoming workplaces.

Jarel Sanders, vice president of Pride At Work, an LGBTQ+ labor union advocacy group, believes unionization is key to securing equitable working conditions, including access to mental health benefits.

“My union negotiates and bargains for health benefits, and my employer has access to several different health plans through these bargaining agreements,” Sanders said, emphasizing the importance of accessible mental healthcare for LGBTQ+ workers facing disproportionate rates of depression. “Through these plans, I get to find mental health providers locally to me that fit my needs.”

The hospitality and service sectors thus present a paradox for LGBTQ+ workers: while offering readily available employment, they often lack the stability and inclusivity needed to thrive.

The gig economy: A blessing and a curse

The gig economy, with its promise of flexibility and convenience for quick cash, has become a lifeline for many LGBTQ+ workers trying to make ends meet. Rideshare and delivery platforms offer adaptable schedules and a seemingly unbiased hiring process, appealing to those who face barriers in traditional workplaces.

Anirudh Jaitly, writing in Economic Times, noted that the gig economy can be a space where “skills and talent triumph the biases that can exist in traditional office environments.”

However, this flexibility comes at a steep price. Gig work often lacks job security, benefits, and basic worker protections, leaving many in a state of constant financial insecurity. The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) described last month that the economic precarity for queer and trans workers is important to understand because “policies that help workers attain and maintain economic stability are crucial. Gig-economy industries and highly variable shift work are not avenues for economic freedom, and this is especially true for queer workers.”

In 2021, transgender Uber drivers raised concerns about Postmates, which Uber bought in 2020, and the app’s display of their legal names, potentially jeopardizing their safety. Uber’s response, the “Right to Pride” initiative, aimed to address these concerns and improve the experience for LGBTQ+ workers, but the incident underscores the ongoing fight for equity.

The struggle for fair treatment extends beyond traditional workplaces. LGBTQ+ workers, regardless of their profession, continue to advocate for their rights, from anti-discrimination protections to access to healthcare and benefits. For Laczkowski, financial stability is a major indicator of mental wellbeing.

“Make sure that you are protecting your money and your virtual security as best as you can, and of course, reach out to any mental health services that you can access in your area,” they urged, noting that despite finding community in rural areas can offer more challenges, to lean on virtual support groups, be it Discord servers or anybody in the area to talk to.

“I think connection with other workers is powerful.”