LGBT make up influential consumer segment, group says

The number of American adults identifying themselves as members of the LGBT community is up, which is a good thing for business.

In a recent Experian Marketing Services report that addressed the rising force of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Americans as consumers, it was found that 4.3 percent of U.S. adults identify themselves as LGBT, up from 0.9 percent in 2006.

And that’s good for the economy.

On average, gay men earn $800 dollars annually more than their heterosexual counterparts, and married or partnered gay men have 12 percent more household income at $115,500 than a married heterosexual man’s household income of $102,100, according to the report.

Lesbian women, however, earn 8 percent less than heterosexual women.

Per capita, gay men have the highest discretionary spending at $6,794 compared to a heterosexual’s $6,041.