Discrimination Against LGBTQ people

Gender, Sex, and Sexuality SOCI 1306 Discrimination Against LGBTQ people Remember from the Crime and Deviance chapter that according to FBI statistics, crimes against the LGBTQ community have been on the rise and make up almost one in five hate crimes in the country (FBI 2020). Although government or law enforcement persecution or abuse has decreased as a result of the repeal of anti-LGBTQ legislation in the US, it has not completely disappeared. LGBTQ individuals may, however, be much more vulnerable in other nations. Human Rights Watch, the International Lesbian, Gay, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA), and the United Nations all report that many nations have laws that punish same-sex relationships, gender nonconformity, and other behaviours that are thought to be against national cultural or religious customs. As of 2020, 61 nations punished same-sex activities with jail time, physical punishment (such as whipping), or other means. Six United Nations members enforced the death penalty for consensual same-sex acts. Among these nations are well-known allies of the US, such Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, both of which have the authority to execute anyone for engaging in same-sex conduct. Some neighbouring countries have laws that make same-sex relationships illegal. Barbados has the highest penalty of life in prison for same-sex conduct, while Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia have lower punishments. However, the government of Saint Lucia says it does not enforce these laws (ILGA 2020). Local laws or government employees may have broad discretion even in cases where the government criminal statute does not explicitly include anti-LGBTQ sanctions. For instance, a large number of individuals leaving Central American nations do so due to anti-LGBTQ violence, which occasionally include police brutality (Human Rights Watch 2020). In the United States, such harsh punishment at the hands of the government is no longer the norm. However, until the 1960s and 1970s, same-sex actions were illegal in every state in the nation. This gave law enforcement authorities the authority to look into and imprison anybody who were suspected of engaging in same-sex acts, as well as to dishonourably discharge homosexual veterans by depriving them of their benefits. For no other reason than to enable gay and lesbian individuals to dance together, police frequently raided pubs and clubs. Police might arrest someone for violating public decency regulations if their attire did not correspond with the customs of their biological sex. The state-level criminalization of same-sex actions started to fall apart in the 1960s and 1970s, and it was completely overturned by the Supreme Court in a 2003 ruling. In addition to overt forms of discrimination like hate crimes and anti-LGBTQ laws, LGBTQ individuals also face prejudice in housing, healthcare, and educational opportunities. Relationships, career and financial prospects, and mental health may all be impacted by this. For instance, 70% of transgender and gender nonconforming individuals and more than half of LGBTQ adults report having experienced discrimination from a health care provider; this can cause delays or reluctance to seek care or preventative visits, which can have a detrimental impact on one's health (American Heart Association 2020). Similarly, compared to straight or cisgender persons, older LGBTQ people are far less likely to come out to medical professionals, which might potentially result in healthcare concerns at a time when they are usually quite dependent on medical care (Foglia 2014). A large portion of this prejudice is founded on false information and misconceptions. Some are founded on heterosexism, which according to Herek (1990) is an ideology and a system of institutional behaviours that gives preference to heterosexuals over people of other sexual orientations. Heterosexism, like racism and sexism, is a systemic disadvantage that is ingrained in our social structures. It gives authority to individuals who identify as heterosexual while simultaneously disadvantageing those who do not. Further stereotyping and discrimination against LGB persons or those believed to be LGB is explained by homophobia, an intense or illogical dislike of LGB people. A fear, hate, or distaste of transgender persons, as well as prejudice and discrimination against them by other people or organisations, is known as transphobia. Significant laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation have just recently gone into force. The contentious "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which mandated that gay and lesbian personnel in the US military conceal their sexual orientation, was reversed by President Obama in 2011. In the 2015 Obgerfell v. Hodges case, the Supreme Court decided that same-sex couples have a legal right to a civil marriage. Furthermore, as previously mentioned, the 2020 Supreme Court ruling included gender identity and sexual orientation to the list of categories covered by the Civil Rights Act that are immune from job discrimination. Simultaneously, legislation enacted in several states allows for varying degrees of discrimination against LGBTQ individuals and same-sex couples on the basis of personal biases or religious views. It takes work to understand LGTBQ persons better without drawing conclusions. Respecting, listening to, and keeping in mind that each individual—LGBTQ or not—is unique will help you better understand others. The way a person expresses or discloses their reality—whether they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or asexual—is their choice, not their sexual orientation. You cannot control how someone else feels or behaves based on your experience, knowledge of other LGBTQ individuals, or even your own experience if you identify as LGBTQ. Lastly, intersectionality refers to the idea that a person's identity extends beyond their sexual orientation and gender identity, as covered in the chapter on race and ethnicity. Inside the LGTBQ community, people with varying age groups, racial backgrounds, skill levels, and life experiences have varying needs and viewpoints. Even if everyone has a different viewpoint, there are certain aspects that are universal when it comes to defending someone's equality, wellness, and respect for their feelings. One of these is to address someone the way they want to be addressed, which includes not using slang or acronyms unless you are certain they are acceptable. For instance, the acronym "trans" is frequently used by individuals and groups (such as those this chapter references) to refer to transgender persons; but, unless the non-transgender person is certain that the subject or person is happy with it, they should not use the abbreviation. Respect also extends to an individual's right to privacy: No one should ever presume that someone is out in public or reveal someone else's identity. LGBTQ allies may advocate for everyone's right to be treated equally and with authority in all societal contexts, including businesses, institutions, and even individual classes. One's perspective and methods may need to shift in order to support others. For instance, it may take some getting accustomed to if a transgender person requests to be referred to by a new name or by other pronouns. This is especially true if you have been using such terms for years. Making the adjustment is beneficial and not unduly burdensome, though. Resources from government agencies, universities, and organisations like the Human Rights Campaign's handbook may teach you more about being an ally. The HRC website provides resources on "being an LGBTQ ally." Language is a vital component of society, and it has changed throughout time to more accurately represent and integrate nonbinary persons. Pronouns have genders in various languages, including English. In other words, pronouns are used to indicate the gender of the person being mentioned. Historically, English has only provided the pronouns "he/him/his" for male subjects and "she/her/hers" for female subjects. Those who identify as neither male nor female are not included in this binary paradigm. More inclusive is the term "they," which was a single pronoun for hundreds of years. Because of this, Merriam Webster declared this usage of "they" to be the 2019 Word of the Year. These days, people who identify as neither male nor female on the spectrum of gender identities are referred to by "they" and other pronouns. Beyond passing associations, gender inclusive language has further implications. For instance, in biology, anatomy, and medicine, terms for organs or bodily functions are frequently associated with a certain gender. More inclusive and honest wording, however, steers clear of these connections. For instance, ovaries generate eggs; women do not. According to Gender Inclusive Biology (2019), people with XY chromosomes are more likely to be colour blind than men, but men are not more likely to be colour blind. The language of society and culture itself may either close doors or open them to inclusion, even beyond the language of gender. Important sociological ideas include societal standards and how behaviours that deviate from them can result in marginalisation. We may start to remove the implicit and explicit prejudices about gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation by separating these facts from the idea of norms. In practical terms, this might include refraining from discussing what constitutes appropriate or inappropriate gender or sexual behaviour (Canadian Public Health Association 2019).