Who I am internally is so far removed from how I am seen. I have felt invisible and uncomfortable in my own skin for as long as I can remember. Moving to the Midwest and pursuing a career in the legal field have only amplified the discomfort and alienation I feel on a daily basis.
The legal world is as conservative as always. I'm reminded every day when I enter courtrooms that lawyers and judges are still predominantly middle-aged white men. As hard as I may try, and as conservative as I dress and act, I will never measure up. Feeling like an outsider permeates through all aspects of my life.
But enough about me. I want to talk about you. Have you heard the term "Bankruptcy"? Scary, right? Most likely, no one has talked to you about the possibility of declaring bankruptcy before. I know no one talked about it with me. Financial responsibility was never talked about at all in my household.
I know I'm not alone. It's no secret that millennials, persons of color, and many of the LGBTQ community have limited knowledge when it comes to financial responsibility. Based on a study conducted in 2016 by Prudential Financial about "The LGBT Financial Experience," an overwhelming majority stated that they need more financial knowledge to reach their goals.
( Source: corporate.prudential.com/media/managed/PrudentialLGBT2016-2017.pdf . )
The same study reported that 41% of those surveyed say that they are struggling to make ends meet or unable to keep up with expenses. The statistics around youth experiencing homelessness who identify as persons of color or LGBTQ are even more grim. Worldwide, persons of color, LGBT people, especially women and transgender people, are discriminated against in the job market and tend to fare poorly when it comes to financial stability and job security. Not only do they endure discrimination, but they often have to deal with a whole host of medical and psychological obstacles.
People within the LGBTQ community are more likely to be inundated with medical bills due to costly gender-affirming surgeries, or mental health medications and services. Financial problems can give rise to enormous stress that many of us are unequipped to handle. If your bills are becoming overwhelming, I would highly urge you to seek out advice from an attorney who will listen to your individual situation, and provide you with non-judgmental guidance. There is no shame in asking for help.
Tina T. Tran ( aka Ty ) is an Illinois attorney, transplanted from California. She is the owner of Needle & Thread Law LLC, a newly formed legal practice and debt relief agency. Contact: ttran@needlethreadlaw.com, ( 773 ) 6093637.