Survey shows gays optimistic about economy

Due to the historic recession, fears of unemployment and job security remain central concerns for many American households including lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT) households. However, there are signs that LGBT adults continue to remain more optimistic about the future of the job market.

A new nationwide survey conducted still shows fully three-quarters (75%) of heterosexual adults and 64% of LGBT adults rate the job market in their region of the country as either “very bad” or “somewhat bad.” However, one in four (27%) of LGBT adults, believe the job market will start to improve within the next six months, compared with just 12% of heterosexual adults.

LGBT adults were also more hopeful about the overall economy. One-fifth (21%) of LGBT adults believe the economy will start growing again within the next six months, compared with just 10% of heterosexual adults.

The survey of 2,509 U.S. adults, (ages 18 and over), of whom 336 self identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender, was conducted online between March 1 and 8, 2010, by Harris Interactive, a global market research and consulting firm, in conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc., a strategic public relations and marketing communications firm with special expertise in the LGBT market. Note that this survey also was conducted before Congress voted in support of national health care reform legislation.

Read more after the jump.

The survey also showed that only one in five (20%) of lesbian and gay adults, when thinking about their household’s financial condition, say that they expect it to get worse in the next 6 months, compared with 32% of heterosexual adults. This is a significant decrease from May 2008 when 36% of lesbian and gay adults expected their household’s financial condition to get worse. In May 2008 31% of heterosexual adults felt the same way.

“We have tracked measures of market confidence over the past two years’ deteriorating economy. We also know that LGBT households are facing the same or in many instances, more challenging financial pressures than their counterparts,” said Wesley Combs, President of Witeck-Combs Communications. “Nonetheless, there are unmistakable trends among LGBT consumers that show consistently higher confidence in the U.S. economy and future job growth. Marketers will be smart to keep this in mind when planning their strategies in the next two years.”

Combs added, “It’s also clear that LGBT households are as susceptible as others to the economic risks of this recession. Most remain vulnerable to widespread forms of legal discrimination that tear into the protections afforded others through safety net programs. That understood, their consistent expressions of confidence in the economy are all the more significant.”

* photo from Nicholas Valentin's Flickr

A community conversation about the economy at Mercury Cafe

Have you been affected by the economic downturn?

Do you have concerns about the government's solutions?

Do you have any thought on how we got here or how we should move forward?

Well, come on down to the Mercury Cafe on Sunday, August 16 at 1:30 p.m. for a community conversation about the economy hosted by Coloradans for a Fair Economy and the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center.

If it is clear that no matter what we do, we must do it together, come join with your neighbors at the Mercury Cafe to share in the first steps toward building a new way forward.

Barney Frank talks economic recovery with John Stewart, in two parts

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Barney Frank Pt. 1
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Joke of the Day

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Barney Frank Extended Interview Pt. 2
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Joke of the Day

Get a job: ShortTask.com

The newest tool in the fight against unemployment is ShortTask.com.

All jobs listed on the site are short term, temporary positions or tasks that pay in small amounts, but can really add up if you’ve got a knack for freelancing.

Some are rather menial (adding websites to search engines) and some perhaps unethical (adding positive reviews to product list sites), but, as most sites we frequent, there are a few diamonds in the buff. - via Gay List Daily

Crocs going out of business?

Is Colorado-based Crocs going out of business? With liabilities totaling $169 million, company auditors say they doubt the "company's ability to continue as a going concern."

Now, a lot of people said Crocs were hideous but it was never that that concerned me as much as how disgusting I thought it would feel to just be filling them up with foot sweat like a pair of rubber buckets (I'm kind of a sweaty animal myself).

Then, last summer, I noticed all the lifeguards at Elitch's Waterpark wore them (in lifeguard red) and that seemed like a really good application for them, being waterproof and non-skid. I was a lifeguard myself for a couple of seasons, at the Boulder Reservoir (did you know the Boulder Res has a nude beach section?), and I would have considering wearing something like them back then.

Mens underwear is dropping

Don't get too excited

There's a large drop in men's underwear! Sales, that is.

And men's underwear is shrinking! Sales, that is.

Apparently, men's underwear sales can predict the economy. And if there's a dip in men's underwear -- sales, that is -- then the economy is getting worse. In that case, I'm waiting for the depression, when they don't buy any at all.

Until then, do your part for the local economy by supporting Colorado's own personal underwear company Baskit. And send me pictures.

Recession hits GLBT groups

The bad economy means less financial support for GLBT groups like HRC, The Victory Fund, and others.

Read more at Advocate.com.

Diversity is key to thriving in our troubled economy

It appears that CH2MHill is a great place to work in this economy - they're actually thriving while everybody else is laying off. Maybe that's the reward you get for being diversity oriented. They know how to hire the best employees and they support the GLBT community, as recognized by their diversity program, their HRC Equality in Business Award and their sponsorship of events like Denver's PrideFest.