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OECD releases Society at a Glance Report, 9th edition

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The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in March 2019 released the ninth edition of Society at a Glance, the biennial OECD overview of social indicators.
The full report can be accessed here.

This edition of the report addresses the growing demand for quantitative evidence on social well-being and its trends, and focuses on LGBT groups (lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender) and their lack of acceptance in OECD countries.

As the report states: “Only half of OECD countries have legalized same-sex marriage … and less than a third allow for a change of gender on official documents to match gender identity without forcing the transgender person to undergo sterilization, sex-reassignment surgery, hormonal therapy, or a psychiatric diagnosis.”

The report addresses how to better include sexual and gender minorities, and looks at how LGBT people fare and which policies can improve their inclusion. It also confirms that anti-LGBT discrimination hampers the economic prospects and mental health of millions of people, and discusses which best practices can create more inclusive environments for sexual and gender minorities.

Indeed, survey data reveals a significant LGBT penalty in the labor market, with experimental data confirming that LGBT people are discriminated against in the labour market.

The report also indicates that LGBT people are at greater risk for mental health disorder due to social stigmas, and that they experience more stress than heterosexual or cisgender individuals.

The OECD recommends educating people to help them counter unconscious bias as part of any policy package aimed at improving LGBT inclusion and recommend making these issues visible in national statistics as a prerequisite for their inclusion. By legally prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal rights, we can improve the lives of millions of LGBT individuals worldwide.

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