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Introduction
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 a broad range of human rights in various settings. According to Singh and Durso, “1 in 4 LGBTQ people reported experiencing discrimination in 2016,” and the situation is not becoming much better. These experiences underscore the importance of studying the issue, including its causes, harmful effects, and current state, to provide effective solutions to end discrimination and harassment of LGBTQIA+ representatives.
Discussion
Violation of human rights for any person is a rejection of their personhood, which has major effects on well-being. 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, obesity, or self-harm to deal with these repercussions. Prejudice often leads to social seclusion and harmful sexual acts related to stress and exposure to sexually transmitted diseases and even HIV (Drabish and Theeke 116). In this case, the individual and those dear to them can be affected. In addition, there is an increased risk of physical and emotional abuse and trauma or even torture and murder 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. However, many societies do not consider atrocities committed against LGBTQ individuals to be breaches of human rights. Saudi Arabia, for example, has laws mandating the death penalty for gays. Homosexuality is illegal across numerous Muslim countries under both shari’a and civil law (Alasti and Bronson 13). Transgender and gender-nonconforming persons are often abused by law enforcement in many countries, including the U. S. (Calhoun 127). Moreover, regulations that give citizens privileges in many jurisdictions do not equal advantages to LGBTQ partnerships. According to the Human Rights Campaign website, “more than half of U.S. states might still deprive LGBTQ+ Americans fundamental liberties such as the right to rent a house or the opportunity to obtain public goods and services based on who they love or who they are.” Therefore, the group is advocating for the passage of The Equality Act in the hope that it will provide fundamental liberties and rights for all Americans, irrespective of where they live.
However, the U.S., like its Western counterparts, 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. 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 include expanding access for LGBTQI+ adolescents to family therapy and assistance services and addressing health inequalities among LGBTQI+ children and grownups (The White House). In reality, these policy initiatives should not be necessary for a just society, given that LGBTQ individuals never interfere with the lives of others who do not relate to the LGBTQ community.
People in the LGBTQ Community are Normal
Several lesbians and homosexual men desire and maintain serious relationships. For instance, according to survey statistics, between 40 and 60% of homosexual males and 45 to 80% of lesbians are now in a romantic affair (American Psychological Association). Moreover, according to statistics from the past U.S. Census, around 1 in 9 of the over 5 million unmarried couples staying together in the United States had same-sex partners. Whereas the population statistics probably undercount the population of cohabiting same-sex spouses, they imply that there are over 300,000 male same-sex families and more than 293,000 female same-sex homes in the U.S. (American Psychological Association). Thus, LGBTQ stereotypes still exist despite data indicating that they are inaccurate. One such misconception is that lesbian and gay men’s marriages are miserable and destructive. However, when it comes to indicators of romantic contentment and dedication, same-sex couples, and heterosexuals are on par.
Another myth is that LGBTQ individuals tend to have turbulent partnerships. Nevertheless, research demonstrates that several lesbians and homosexual men develop long-lasting unions despite societal antagonism against same-sex marriages. For instance, 18 and 28 percent of homosexual couples and 8 and 21 percent of lesbian spouses have been together for ten years or more (American Psychological Association). A valid argument could likewise be made that same-sex spouses’ permanence would be improved if their mates had the same protection and acknowledgment for their partnerships that heterosexual partners have, i.e., the statutory rights and obligations that come with matrimony.
A prevalent myth is that LGBTQ couples have more diverse aims and beliefs than heterosexual individuals. According to the American Psychological Association, the elements determining partnership happiness, dedication, and longevity are strikingly comparable for same-sex cohabiting persons and heterosexual-engaged individuals. Limited studies have been conducted on the romantic situations of bisexual individuals (American Psychological Association). If these people are in a same-sex union, they will encounter the same discriminatory practices as lesbian and gay people.
Many homosexual men and lesbians already have children, while others have the desire to do so. While there are no statistics available to compare the numbers, a significant number of unmarried lesbians and gay men are parenting, as well as a significant number of same-sex couples who are part-time caregivers to kids whose principal residency is somewhere else (American Psychological Association). Some individuals have voiced questions regarding the health and safety of youngsters who are part of lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, and transgender couples whose parents are due to the greater social prominence and LGBTQ parents. Most of these inquiries are based on false assumptions and generalizations about gay men and lesbians.
Conclusion
Everyone has the right to fundamental human rights, regardless of culture or socioeconomic status. 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 ensuring that LGBTQ people’s rights are upheld. To recognize the human rights of LGBTQ people, international and national laws and regulations must be institutionalized, and prejudices should be addressed so that LGBTQ people are considered human beings deserving of all civil liberties.
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.
American Psychological Association. Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality. American Psychological Association, 2022.
Calhoun, Carolyn. “Bullseye on Their Back: Police Profiling and Abuse of Trans and Gender Non-Conforming Individuals and Solutions beyond the Department of Justice Guidelines.” Alabama Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Law Review, vol. 8, 2017, pp. 127.
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.
Human Rights Campaign. Why Do We Need The Equality Act? Human Rights Campaign, 2020.
Singh, Sejal, and Laura E. Durso. Widespread Discrimination Continues to Shape LGBT People’s Lives in Both Subtle and Significant Ways. Center for American Progress, 2017. Web.
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.
United Nations. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 2015.
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