The gender wage gap in the United States was brought to light this week following Patricia Arquette‘s stirring speech for gender equality—and its subsequent backlash—today, however, a “gay pay gap” has been exposed by an economist from the University of Melbourne, Andrea La Nauze.
La Nauze’s study, “Sexual orientation–based wage gaps in Australia: The potential role of discrimination and personality” is the first of its kind in Australia, as the Sydney Morning Herald reports. La Nauze investigated the discrepancy in wages of homosexual workers in Australia in comparison to their heterosexual equivalents, finding that, much like the gender pay gap in Australia (data announced on Thursday has the gender pay gap currently at 18.8%), a gay pay gap may unlawfully exist.
Key findings from the study include:
- Lesbians in Australia earn a wage premium over their heterosexual counterparts of 0% to 13%
- Employers’ belief that gay women may not leave the workforce to have children may be a factor for this wage premium against heterosexual women
- Gay men reportedly experience a negative wage gap against their heterosexual counterparts, earning between 8%-18% less than straight men
- Discrimination against gay men and personality traits may be a factor in this gap
The study and its findings come at a time in Australia where, although grassroots initiatives are always in full swing, marriage equality and gay rights seem to have taken a backseat on the national level of politics, as Parliament descends into gossip, potential spills and Question Time squabbles on the daily. SMDH.
Via SMH.
Lead image by Cole Bennets via Getty.
