Why LGBTQ+ inclusion is essential to education, economic development, social cohesion and a sustainable future
Introduction: The strength of a society is measured by who it includes
The strength of a society is not measured solely by its economic performance, political stability, technological advancement or cultural achievements. It is also measured by how it treats its people, particularly those who experience discrimination, marginalisation and exclusion.
A society becomes resilient when all its members have the opportunity to participate, contribute, develop their potential and live with dignity, regardless of their backgrounds, identities, beliefs or circumstances.
Yet, across different regions of the world, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people continue to experience discrimination that affects almost every aspect of their lives. From classrooms and workplaces to healthcare facilities, religious institutions, family homes and public spaces, exclusion remains a significant barrier to equal participation.
LGBTQ+ rights are frequently discussed as a separate human rights concern, disconnected from broader conversations about economic development, education, social stability, family values and national progress. This separation overlooks an important reality: the ability of LGBTQ+ people to live safely, access opportunities and participate in society is directly connected to the wellbeing and resilience of society as a whole.
Inclusion is therefore not simply about recognising a minority group. It is about building institutions, communities and systems that allow everyone to contribute to collective progress.
1. Education: Inclusion begins with equal opportunities to learn
Education is one of the most important foundations of social and economic development. It equips individuals with knowledge, skills, confidence and opportunities to participate meaningfully in society.
However, LGBTQ+ learners in many parts of the world face bullying, harassment, discrimination and exclusion because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
For some, the consequences include poor academic performance, psychological distress, absenteeism and leaving school prematurely. Others experience rejection from teachers, classmates or families, making educational environments unsafe.
UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report, Don’t Look Away: No Place for Exclusion of LGBTI Students, highlights the scale of this problem. Research involving more than 17,000 young people found that 54% of surveyed LGBTQI young people in Europe had experienced bullying at school, while 83% had witnessed negative remarks directed at others because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or related characteristics.
These findings demonstrate that discrimination is not simply an interpersonal problem. It is an institutional challenge that undermines the purpose of education.
An inclusive education system does not require every learner to share the same beliefs or identities. It requires schools to provide safe learning environments in which no student is denied an education, humiliated or subjected to violence because of who they are.
When LGBTQ+ learners have equal opportunities to complete their education, they can become teachers, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers, public servants and leaders.
Excluding them means losing talent, skills and potential that could otherwise contribute to national development.
2. Economy: Inclusion is an investment in productivity and development
Economic resilience depends on the ability of people to access employment, develop skills, establish businesses, participate in financial systems and contribute to productive activities.
LGBTQ+ people are part of every economy. They are workers, employers, entrepreneurs, consumers, professionals, taxpayers and innovators.
However, discrimination in recruitment, employment, housing, financial services and business environments can prevent individuals from reaching their economic potential.
The World Bank recognises that discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity can reduce educational outcomes, increase unemployment and restrict access to housing, healthcare and financial services.
Research commissioned by the World Bank provides an important illustration of the economic consequences.
Studies in North Macedonia and Serbia estimated that exclusion based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics costs each country’s economy approximately 0.5% of GDP annually.
A 2025 World Bank study on Brazil estimated annual labour-income losses associated with LGBTQ+ exclusion at approximately R$94.4 billion, equivalent to 0.8% of the country’s GDP.
These figures demonstrate that exclusion has consequences extending beyond individuals. It can affect national productivity, public revenue and economic development.
An inclusive economy is one in which employment opportunities are determined by qualifications, skills, competence and performance rather than prejudice.
Businesses also benefit when workplaces encourage diversity, protect employees against discrimination and allow people to contribute without fear of harassment or unfair treatment.
Economic inclusion is not an act of charity. It is an essential component of sustainable and equitable economic growth.
3. Religion and faith communities: Making room for dignity and coexistence
Religion plays an influential role in shaping values, family relationships, moral perspectives and community life across the world.
For millions of people, religious institutions provide spiritual guidance, social support, education, humanitarian assistance and a sense of belonging.
However, conversations about LGBTQ+ inclusion can become difficult when religious beliefs and questions of human rights intersect.
It is important to recognise that religious communities are diverse. People of faith hold different interpretations, traditions and positions on sexuality and gender identity. There is no single religious perspective shared by everyone.
Nevertheless, differences in religious belief should not become justification for violence, humiliation, dehumanisation or denial of essential human rights.
The challenge is to create spaces where religious freedom, freedom of expression, human dignity and equal protection can coexist.
Religious leaders and institutions have an opportunity to promote compassion, peaceful dialogue and the rejection of violence, even where theological disagreements remain.
A resilient society does not require everyone to hold identical beliefs. It requires people to coexist peacefully, respect one another’s dignity and recognise that disagreement does not remove another person’s humanity.
4. Family: Inclusion strengthens the foundations of society
The family is one of the most important institutions in human development. It provides emotional support, protection, identity, socialisation and a sense of belonging.
For LGBTQ+ people, however, family relationships can sometimes become sources of rejection and exclusion.
Some individuals experience verbal and physical abuse, forced separation, homelessness, financial withdrawal and pressure to conceal their identities. Young people may lose access to education and essential support after being rejected by their families.
These experiences can create long-term social and economic vulnerability.
Family acceptance, on the other hand, can provide a foundation for stability, confidence, education and participation in society.
Inclusion does not mean that families must abandon their cultural or religious identities. It means recognising that children, siblings and relatives deserve dignity, safety and protection regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
A family that protects its members from violence and rejection contributes to a healthier community.
Ultimately, resilient families help build resilient societies.
5. Social activities and community participation: Belonging matters
Society is built through everyday interactions.
People participate in sports, cultural activities, community organisations, artistic expression, public events, social gatherings and volunteer initiatives. These activities create relationships, strengthen trust and encourage cooperation.
Yet LGBTQ+ individuals may face exclusion from these spaces because of prejudice, stereotypes or fear of discrimination.
When people are prevented from participating in community life, society loses opportunities for interaction, collaboration and mutual understanding.
Inclusion means allowing LGBTQ+ individuals to participate in public and community activities without intimidation, harassment or discrimination.
It also means recognising their contributions to culture, sports, science, entertainment, education, humanitarian work and civic engagement.
Visibility and participation help challenge stereotypes and create opportunities for people from different backgrounds to understand one another.
A community becomes stronger when its members can contribute freely rather than being forced to live at the margins.
6. Healthcare and public services: Nobody should be left behind
Access to healthcare, justice, housing and other essential public services is fundamental to human dignity and sustainable development.
However, stigma and discrimination can prevent LGBTQ+ people from seeking healthcare, reporting violence, accessing legal assistance or obtaining other essential services.
Fear of humiliation, breaches of confidentiality, mistreatment and discrimination can discourage individuals from approaching institutions that are supposed to protect and serve them.
The World Health Organization emphasises that the right to health is interconnected with other human rights, including education, housing, employment, participation and access to information.
An effective healthcare system should provide professional, confidential and non-discriminatory services.
Similarly, justice systems should protect everyone against violence and arbitrary treatment, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Public institutions become more effective when people can approach them without fear.
Leaving people behind weakens public trust, reduces access to essential services and undermines the principles of equal citizenship.
7. The cost of exclusion: A society cannot develop by leaving people behind
Exclusion is often presented as a matter affecting only the individuals who experience discrimination. In reality, its consequences spread throughout society.
When an LGBTQ+ student is forced out of school, society loses a potential skilled professional.
When a qualified individual is denied employment because of prejudice, the economy loses productive capacity.
When a family rejects one of its members, the consequences can include homelessness, poverty and increased dependence on already limited social support systems.
When people cannot access healthcare, the entire public health system faces additional challenges.
When individuals are denied justice, public confidence in institutions deteriorates.
These consequences are interconnected.
Discrimination creates barriers to opportunity, and barriers to opportunity increase social and economic vulnerability.
The cost of exclusion is therefore not limited to the suffering of LGBTQ+ individuals. It affects families, communities, institutions and national development.
This is particularly important in countries facing unemployment, poverty, educational inequality and limited access to public services. Such societies cannot afford to waste human potential through preventable discrimination.
8. Africa and the global responsibility to build inclusive societies
Across Africa, discussions about LGBTQ+ rights take place within complex historical, cultural, religious, political and legal environments.
Different countries have different legal frameworks and social attitudes. LGBTQ+ communities also experience different forms of discrimination depending on their geographical location, economic circumstances and social backgrounds.
In some contexts, criminalisation, restrictive legislation, public hostility and misinformation create additional barriers to education, employment, healthcare and access to justice.
These challenges must be addressed through constructive engagement, human rights protection, evidence-based policymaking and dialogue that recognises the realities of local communities.
Africa’s development ambitions, including Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, depend on strengthening education, decent work, health, equality, accountable institutions and inclusive communities.
The commitment to leave no one behind must therefore have practical meaning for LGBTQ+ people as well.
This is not an argument that every society must abandon its cultural identity or religious traditions. Rather, it is an argument that cultural diversity, religious freedom and human dignity should not be used to justify violence, discrimination or the exclusion of people from opportunities essential to their development.
The global responsibility is to build societies where differences do not become barriers to participation and where human rights are protected consistently.
9. Inclusion as a foundation for sustainable development and social resilience
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals provide an important framework for understanding why inclusion matters.
LGBTQ+ inclusion intersects with several development priorities:
- SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being: Ensuring equitable access to healthcare and essential services.
- SDG 4 – Quality Education: Creating safe and inclusive learning environments.
- SDG 5 – Gender Equality: Addressing discrimination and harmful gender-based inequalities.
- SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth: Promoting equal employment opportunities and productive participation.
- SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities: Addressing structural barriers and social exclusion.
- SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: Strengthening access to justice, equality before the law and accountable institutions.
UNDP’s LGBTI Inclusion Index also recognises the importance of measuring inclusion across multiple dimensions of sustainable development.
This is significant because inclusion cannot be achieved through legislation alone. It requires changes in institutional practices, public policies, social attitudes and access to opportunities.
A resilient society is one that can respond to challenges without sacrificing the dignity or rights of sections of its population.
It is one in which people can access education, earn a living, receive healthcare, participate in public life and contribute to their communities without being discriminated against.
Conclusion: Inclusion is not a favour; it is a foundation for collective progress
The future of our societies depends on our ability to recognise human potential in all its diversity.
LGBTQ+ people are not separate from society. They are part of families, communities, economies, educational institutions, religious communities and national development.
Their experiences, contributions and aspirations are connected to the broader wellbeing of humanity.
We cannot speak meaningfully about sustainable development while overlooking the people excluded from its opportunities. We cannot claim to build strong economies while allowing discrimination to prevent qualified individuals from contributing. We cannot promote quality education while tolerating bullying and exclusion in schools. And we cannot build cohesive communities while allowing prejudice to determine who deserves dignity and belonging.
Inclusion does not mean that everyone must think alike, believe alike or live alike. It means that our differences should not prevent us from sharing opportunities, participating in society and enjoying fundamental human rights.
The measure of a resilient society is not how successfully it protects the interests of those who already have power and acceptance. It is how effectively it creates opportunities, protects dignity and ensures participation for everyone.
When we include people, we strengthen families. When we strengthen families, we build communities. When we build inclusive communities, we strengthen economies and institutions. And when our institutions protect everyone, we create societies capable of withstanding social, economic and political challenges.
Inclusion is therefore not simply an LGBTQ+ rights agenda. It is a human development agenda, a social justice agenda and an investment in a stronger, more sustainable and resilient future.
Inclusion builds resilient societies because no society can reach its full potential by leaving some of its people behind.Â
Evidence and references supporting the article
These are the principal institutional sources used to ground the arguments. They are also useful if you want to develop a more academic or policy-oriented version.
1. UNESCO – Don’t Look Away: No Place for Exclusion of LGBTI Students. Evidence on bullying and exclusion in education. Read the UNESCO report.
2. World Bank – Economic Cost of Exclusion Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics. Economic evidence from Serbia and North Macedonia. Read the research.
3. World Bank – Brazil economic cost of exclusion study (2025). Estimates of labour-income and fiscal losses associated with exclusion. Read the Brazil study.
4. World Health Organization – Human Rights and Health. Explains the interdependence of health, education, employment, housing and other rights. Read WHO guidance.
5. UNDP – LGBTI Inclusion Index. A framework for measuring inclusion across the Sustainable Development Goals. Read the UNDP report
