It is widely acknowledged that wellness and individual rights are intertwined. The rights to inclusivity, freedom from discriminatory practices, life, and the freedom to marry and raise a family are covered by various articles under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) (United Nations). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) persons, in particular, are often deprived of access to the broad range of human rights in various settings. Serious violations of international human rights law are committed when LGBTQ individual human rights are not honored, and they are not shielded from unjust treatment like discriminatory laws and practices and violence. These violations have a significant adverse effect on society. As a result, there is a greater risk of illness, such as HIV infection, social marginalization, and pressure on families and communities. These experiences underscore the importance of studying the issue, including its causes, harmful effects, and current state, to provide practical solutions to end discrimination and harassment of LGBTQIA+ representatives because these people also contribute to society and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.
Violation of human rights for any person is a rejection of their personhood, significantly affecting wellbeing. It can lead to employment and housing prejudice for LGBTQ individuals (Drabish and Theeke 111). Consequently, this may impact the capacity to acquire food, housing, and medical treatment. In addition, discrimination may prevent people from receiving benefits, limiting their ability to cover their medical care and maintain economic stability (Trau). Additionally, the members of the LGBTQ community face harassment, which significantly impacts their psychological health (Drabish and Theeke 112). Many individuals commonly turn to drug addiction, smoking, or self-harm to deal with these repercussions. Prejudice often leads to social seclusion; people are more vulnerable to harmful sexual acts related to stress and exposure to sexually transmitted diseases and even HIV (Drabish and Theeke 116). Several studies have shown that LGBT individuals who experience discrimination are at an increased risk of committing suicide (Woulfe and Goodman 100). In this case, the individual and those dear to them can be affected. In addition, there is a potential danger of physical and emotional abuse and trauma for LGBTQ people.
In many countries, LGBTQ individuals face prejudice, assault, persecution, and even state-sponsored killing. Several countries have legislation that sanctions punishing those who violate human rights. Similarly, the increased visibility of LGBTQ people and growing acceptance of LGBT rights globally has made it the right time to argue against LGBTQ discrimination (Stone e12638). As a result, more high-profile individuals openly support the LGBTQ community, including celebrities, politicians, and business leaders.
However, like its western counterparts, the United States has made significant progress toward integrating all LGBTQ people into society. For example, President Biden has just issued a historic executive order promoting LGBTQI+ equality (The White House). Through the order, the Health and Human Services Secretary was asked to prepare and disseminate model guidelines for states to protect and increase healthcare access for LGBTQI+ people and their households, including psychiatric services (The White House). Additional responsibilities of HHS combine expanding access for LGBTQI+ adolescents to family therapy and assistance services and addressing health inequalities among LGBTQI+ children and grownups (The White House).
The first action that may be taken is to ensure that the state protects LGBTQ people from abuse and violence. Investigating, prosecuting, and giving redress for crimes of abuse, suffering, and ill-treatment against LGBTQ children, adults, adolescents, and individuals who protect their human rights are just a few examples of how to achieve this (Trau 4). Additionally, the state should strengthen initiatives to stop, track, and report such acts of violence and include homophobia and Tran’s phobia as aggravating circumstances in legislation against hate speech and crimes.
According to psychological research, actively discussing one’s experiences with others, one knows will likely lessen prejudice toward LGBTQ individuals and boost support for social and political equality. Therefore, creating a space where LGBTQ people can express themselves is another successful strategy that can be implemented (Calhoun 125). National Coming out Day and Tell 3 are grassroots initiatives to support and facilitate cross-group interaction between LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ persons. These will lessen the latter’s prejudice and encourage their active opposition to discrimination. His Know Us Project supports LGBT individuals by collaborating with mental health professionals to promote intergroup interaction that lessens discrimination (The White House).
According to research, legal protections for LGBTQ people have a considerable positive impact on the individuals themselves and their larger communities. LGBTQ people have better overall physical health and a lower propensity to report mental health conditions like anxiety, PTSD, dysthymia, and sadness in states with safeguards (The Reality Flag). Women who identify as sexual minorities are more prone to convey satisfaction to their medical professionals and to disclose their sexual orientation to them. This finding implies that anti-discrimination laws can increase LGBTQ patients’ faith in the medical system and their access to care tailored to their sexual orientation or gender identity (Chang et al. 210). Evidence also points to a link between a decline in hate crimes and state prohibitions against LGBTQ job discrimination (Alasti and Bronson 67). It implies that opinions of LGBTQ people improve when governments prioritize the protection of these people.
In conclusion, when it comes to the civil rights of LGBTQ people, the time has come to advocate for an end to discrimination in all forms, including discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as sex and gender stereotyping, and this is essential in a few ways. First and foremost, every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter who they are in society. Second, LGBTQ people face more significant levels of discrimination than other groups in many areas of life, including employment, housing, education, and healthcare. One can make a difference by reporting bias, mainly when using and receiving healthcare services. Hospitals that accept Medicaid funds are expected to have external non-discriminatory hospital visiting policies, allowing same-sex partners and other family members to see loved ones undergoing treatment. Whether you identify as gay or straight, you may contribute to lessening homophobia, prejudice, and its detrimental impacts on the community’s wellbeing.
Therefore, people must stand up against bigotry and hatred and fight for a society that is inclusive and welcoming to everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Ascertaining that LGBTQ people have healthcare access, speaking out and implementing initiatives to enhance their representation, grasping LGBTQ issues, and being mindful of human rights violations are essential to upholding human rights. The argument against LGBTQ people is necessary because they are human beings who contribute to national development and are also prone to stress and depression; thus, they need to be treated with respect and dignity.
Works Cited
Alasti Sanaz and Eric Bronson, “Death Penalty in Sharia Law,” Routledge Handbook on Capital Punishment, edited by Robert M. Bohm and Gavin Lee, Routledge, 2017, pp. 231-243.
Chang, Cindy J. et al. “The Role of LGBTQ Identity Pride in the Associations among Discrimination, Social Support, and Depression in a Sample of LGBTQ Adolescents.” Annals of LGBTQ Public and Population Health, vol 2, no. 3, 2021, pp. 203-219. Springer Publishing Company. Doi: 10.1891/lgbtq-2021-0020
Drabish, Kerry, and Laurie A. Theeke. “Health impact of stigma, discrimination, prejudice, and bias experienced by transgender people: A systematic Review of Quantitative Studies.” Issues in Mental Health Nursing, vol. 43, no. 2, 2022, pp. 111-118.
Stone, Amy L. “The Geography of Research on LGBTQ Life: Why Sociologists Should Study the South, Rural Queers, and Ordinary Cities.” Sociology Compass, vol.12, 2018, p. e12638.
“The Reality Flag.” Human Rights Campaign, 2022.
The White House. Fact Sheet: President Biden to Sign Historic Executive Order Advancing LGBTQI+ Equality during Pride Month. The White House, 2022.
Trau, Morgan. Bipartisan Group of Ohio Lawmakers Attempt to Make LGBTQ Discrimination Illegal. Ohio Capital Journal, 2022.
Woulfe, Julie M., and Lisa A. Goodman. “Weaponized Oppression: Identity Abuse and Mental Health in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Community.” Psychology of Violence, vol. 10, no. 1, 2020, pp. 100-109.