Admirable Health Care

“Although sharply divided, public attitudes toward gays and lesbians are rapidly changing to reflect greater acceptance, with younger generations leading the way” (NORC University of Chicago, 2010, p. 1). This push for international acceptance of the LGBT people could not come any sooner. Lesbians, gays, bisexuals as well as transgender individuals from around the world have almost all experienced some sort of discrimination in their lives. This is why there is such a gap between heterosexual and LGBT people. There are hundreds, if not more, reasons for why some people will not accept LGBT individuals and couples, whether it is religion, family values or simply the fact that some people find LGBT people unnatural. This is why the common sufferings

The LGBTQ+ community’s discrimination has bettered over the last couple of years but is starting to dip in places. In many countries, such as Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Ghana, being a homosexual could have you killed. Because of this difficulty, many LGBTQ+ persons have or have had, a difficulty ‘coming out’ to their friends, family, and peers. According to the Pew Research Center survey on the LGBTQ+ population, nearly 4 in 10 people, or about 39% have been rejected by their family and friends because of their homosexuality and sexual orientation. 6 in 10 people have been victims to racial slurs and jokes about their sexualities, and 21% have been unfairly treated by fellow employees. For teenage LGBTQ+, they are even more discriminated

Throughout history, it is evident that inequalities and disparities are part of health systems and society. Even after all the success of activism, such as the work from the human rights movement and campaign, inequalities and disparities are still evident today. Especially within minority groups, such as LGBTQ* (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) individuals – this is not to say that LGBTQ are the only categories when it comes to sexual orientation and gender identities, thus it is followed by a * – and racial groups. Furthermore, it is evident that within minority groups there are specific micro-level groups that experience unique and sometimes even greater amount of inequalities and disparities. For example, the micro-level group of transgender individuals from the LGBTQ* community is one of the many minority groups that experience both medical and social disparities and inequalities.This paper will discuss both the medical and social inequalities and disparities that Transgender Individuals face, including structural violence and intentional violence.

The issue that will be investigated is ‘Those Who Are Same Sex Attracted Are More Likely to Suffer from a Mental Illness’. When comparing homosexual and bisexual people to heterosexuals, the homosexual and bisexuals are twice as likely to experience anxiety and are three times as likely to experience depression and related disorders. Previous studies and statistics will provide evidence that will support the statement being investigated. Campaigns will be illustrating how organisations are trying to prevent homophobia and improve the overall wellbeing of people who are same sex attracted. The three different kinds of homophobia being internalised, interpersonal and institutional will be explored, as well as the concept of heterosexism. The issues involving the government and the community creating prejudice will be examined. Including ways that members of the community and government can control discrimination providing social justice towards LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) people.

Jody Dobrowski aged 24, was brutally murdered in South London in 2005 by two men who believed him to be homosexual. After such a severe, barbaric, inhumane act of homophobic violence, his own mother could not identify him, and his fingerprints had to be used. The judge described this as ‘homophobic thuggery’. Ian Baynham aged 62.Viciously assaulted by a young girl and boy; he punched him, whilst she repeatedly stamped and kicked him screaming ‘faggot’. His injuries were later fatal and he tragically died in hospital 18 days later. Christopher Schliach, Henry Bright, Jaap Bornkamp, Geoffrey Windsor, Daniel Jenkinson and a shocking many more, are all clear examples of hate crimes being metered out on gay men. Homophobia does kill, and isn’t reducing in frequency.

Most can have problems finding some where to stay. Because LGBT persons often have great difficulty finding shelters that accept and respect them. Transgender people are often forced to classify themselves as a gender with which they do not identify. These individuals are particularly at physical risk in shelters. This risk comes from a lack of acceptance. Ex. Transgender women (born with male genitalia but identify and live as women) forced to take shelter with heterosexual men are frequently subjected to verbal, physical, and sexual abuse. Transgender individuals are often turned away from shelters and in some cases signs have been posted barring their entrance. (American Journal of Public Health, 2002) In some cases, suicide rates of LGBT people have escaladed in the past few years of feeling neglected. Suicide attempts by LGB youth and questioning youth are 4 to 6 times more likely to result in injury, poisoning, or overdose that requires treatment from a doctor or nurse, compared to their straight peers. (CDC, 2011) The STD (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) is growing among LGBT groups also. It is another problem they are facing. STDs have been increasing among gay and bisexual men, with recent increases in syphilis being documented across the country. In 2012, men who have sex with men (MSM) accounted for 75% of primary and secondary syphilis cases in the United States. MSM often are diagnosed with other STDs, including Chlamydia and gonorrhea infections. (National Center for HIV/AIDS, 2014) And LGBT are also being discriminated against being hired for a job. Employers are not hiring LGBT people because they do not agree with their life choices and will not hire

“Gay rights have come a long way, but there’s more to do” by Greg Waters, Sydney Morning Herald (2018), outlines a national journey but also personal journey of the author. Waters highlights how as a nation, Australia has come so far since the 20th century in terms of gay rights, yet there is still more work that needs to be done, to ensure all discrimination stops. Waters uses evidence from 1972 to highlight how inhumanely gay people were treated, including being dismissed from employment for being gay and that protestors against these practices were not looked upon favourably . In 2018 however, a big win for gay rights was the legalisation of gay marriage in 2017. Yet, he argues there is still so far to go, as in 2018,

The main focus of nursing is to give excellent, holistic care to improve quality of life and prevent illnesses. In doing so it is important to maintain justice for all patients regardless of the situation. Justice, in health care, is being fair to all patients and treating them equally no matter their age, race, religion, or background. (Butts & Rich, 2016, p. 46) In healthcare ethics, this can be divided into two categories: distributive justice; which is the fair distribution of resources and social justice; which is the setting that everyone should have the same rights, advantages, and opportunities. Social justice proves to be a difficult task to attain in our world, but there are constant adjustments and improvements being made. (Butts & Rich, 2016, p. 47)

Throughout history, members of the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, and queer community (LGBTQ) have been persecuted because of their sexual orientation. There has been a tremendous struggle for power, within the LGBTQ community. Throughout the years, people have tried to suppress the rights of these individuals, because of their own moral beliefs. Some methods they pursue are more aggressive than others. Certain individuals will stop at nothing to keep this community down, and will even act with ruthless aggression to do so. There are a multitude of cases within the last decade to prove this true. When someone does decide to this, they are considered hate crimes.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender youth suicide continues to be a problem in many different countries but very limited data has been gathered about this social issue internationally. While it is well-known that it is still ongoing problem in many countries such as: Israel where a study of 1,134 teenagers were surveyed and results show that 20% of these teenagers have attempted suicide, which is 112 times the rate of the general population. The study also showed that the rate is even higher for LGBT teenagers who have religious backgrounds (Roberts, 2012). In Australia, LGBT youth have the highest rates of suicidality. 20% of transgendered and 15.7% of lesbian, gay and bisexual Australians have reported current suicidal ideation. Same-sex attracted Australians have up to fourteen times higher rates of suicide attempts compared to heterosexual peers. The rate is six times higher for homosexual adolescents (Rosenstreich, 2013). Lastly, In New Zealand; of the young people who completed the 2012 survey “Young People Attracted to the Same Sex or Both Sexes Report”, 59.4% had said they have deliberately self-harmed in the previous twelve months and 47.7% have reported suicidal ideation (Ministry of Youth Development, 2015). The data gathered is enough to prove that LGBT youth suicide is a social issue of international significance.

In the 1980’s as the male gay community was decimated by the AIDS epidemic, enormous marches worldwide drew about 1 million gay rights supporters to protest against the stereotype that AIDS is only contracted through gay relations. Also the harassment and bullying that homosexual people have experienced has influenced society to take action. In Australia, a 2008 study of 390 gay, lesbian, bisexual, transexual Victorians found that nearly one in seven reported to be living in fear of homophobic violence. This fear was justified in that nearly 85% of respondents had been subjected to some form of homophobic violence or harrassment in their lifetimes and one in two had experienced homophobic harrassment ot other non-physical abuse in the past two years (civilrights.org 2015). Different power structures across the world present varied views on what constitutes a marriage and how homosexual people should be viewed in the eyes on the law. This presents an issue when same sex couples wishing to travel

NMC (2008) The Code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives. London: Nursing and Midwifery Council

Violence and hostility are commonly shown towards people who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. University of Arizona scholar David Robinson states, “Their ‘identity’ might include a sense of being different to some degree from other men or women, even from most of society, on the basis of same-sex attraction. It might include awareness of having to hide that difference in order to avoid persecution or punishment” (Robinson 8). Some people have to hide who they are because they are afraid of being punished or not fitting in. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation found that “Fifty-four percent of LGBT people say they are concerned about being the victim of a hate crime” (Marzullo 10).

This politics of exclusion is grounded in the depiction of homosexuals as monsters. It would be silly to deny that gays and lesbians, in their sexual preference, clearly diverge from the societal norm. Furthermore, we cannot ignore that this deviation introduces a degree of chaos to society. However, when we view homosexuals’ difference and challenge to convention as monstrously threatening, discrimination is justified.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people face poorer health outcomes than heterosexuals. In our society, people still classify LGBT people as deviant, dysfunctional, abnormal and immoral (Sloan and Gustavsson, n.d). Most disturbing is the impact of such stereotyping on LGBT youth. Violence against these marginalize and vulnerable group has led to disparity in health outcome as well as the loss of lives. According to Pollock 2006 (p.29) “same-sex orientation is a significant risk factor for suicide, depression and alcohol abuse”