What Is The Impact Of Discrimination On The Lgbt Community

As a family member of an LGBTQ youth I have observed and heard about the harsh conditions that these children are dealing with. There are thousands of homeless LGBTQ youth across the country for simply being gay and expressing their sexuality, these youth are either pushed out of their homes or run away and forced into circumstances that nobody should have to face. By researching the special needs of the LGBTQ homeless youth and the resources available to them in my community, I hope to advocate for more awareness and inspire change and understanding of their flight.

The first three sets of theory incorporated the levels, shifting levels of identities shaped by outside agencies for LGBT youth. Another social factor that impending on young sexual minorities are the threats of poverty. These threats cause LGBT youth to experience vulnerability and detriment to their identities. Corliss et al. research validates that statement. In their article, “High Burden of Homelessness Among Sexual-Minority Adolescents: Findings From a Representative, Massachusetts High School, Sample,” they review the prevalence of homelessness in LGBT and heterosexual adolescents (Corliss et al. 1683). Their findings include: 40% LGBT student in the Massachusetts

Twenty percent, about 320,000, of America’s homeless teens identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (Leuween, 2006, para. 5). So many LGBT teenagers become homeless because they don’t receive support or acceptance from their family, community and friends. Homelessness doesn’t only occur because of runaways (Cochran, et al. 2002, para.3). Teenagers can find themselves homeless because their parents lost their jobs and are not able to support them anymore.

Every day in the United States, a young person, under the age of eighteen faces homelessness, and most often it’s because of others. In a report by The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, it was noted that 26% of LGBTQ youth were kicked out of their homes when they came out (Ray, 2006). The Urban Justice League reports numbers as high as 78% of LGBTQ youth that “were removed from or left their foster care placements because they were un-welcoming or hostile towards their sexual orientation and/or gender identity ” (Feinstein, Greenblatt, Hass, Kohn, & Rana, 2001). The United States is an independent, individualistic country; we prize the freedom of expression, but do we really? One of the most significant, if not the most important, social structures is the family. Gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals who are aware of their sexuality, must create an alternative self to present to family and friends, especially if there is an understanding, verbalized or implicit, that homosexuality is not tolerated, or simply wrong. Many gay, lesbian and bisexual men and women would rather go with the flow, assimilate, not make waves, rather than to express their own gay identity, and risk ostracism.

Each and every day, thousands of members among the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual) community are affected by hate crimes, bullying and even homicide. In fact, in just 2015 alone, the number of crimes and homicides reported against these members are staggering. According to The National Coalition of Anti-violence Programs, there were fifteen reported homicides. (Jindasurat & Waters, 2015) That is only the reported number of victims who were confirmed as part of this community. Can you imagine how many are actually affected each year? These people are being targeted because of who they are and how they choose to live their life. They are being targeted because they have stood up for who they are. I couldn’t imagine being targeted

Out of the 316 million people in the United States of America, nine million of them relate as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning collectively known as LGBTQ. This makes up about four percent of the population and while this may seem like a small number, the LGBTQ equal rights movement is as big as ever. While there are many fronts to fight in the war for equal rights, the major points I will be discussing are the history of LGBTQ fight for equal rights, marriage rights and equality, and the mistreatment of LGBTQ youth in regards to bullying in schools, homelessness, and depression/suicide.

Health and mental health, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, sexual exploitation, and victimization are listed as significant negative outcomes for homeless youth, but are significantly higher for LGBTQ homeless youth (Moskowitz, Stein, and Lightfoot, 2013; Walls & Bell, 2011). There are inherent risks in homelessness for all people, but a quantitative study by Rice et al. (2013), outlined that LGBTQ youth tend to engage in the most risky types of homelessness, such as staying with a stranger and being less likely to stay in shelter. The study further revealed that these practices place adolescents at greater risk of victimization.

Identity salience and changes in one’s salience hierarchy may be affected by one’s experiences of discrimination as they often function as a structural reinforcement of one’s primary identity (Moore 2011). Experiences of discrimination could be understood as recognition of difference and distinction between as well as the positioning of groups against one another (Higginbotham 1992)—a marker of difference and a reinforcement of a certain group membership imposed by others. Furthermore, strong centrality of and group identification with a particular identity could also affect the ways in which individuals perceive discrimination. Social psychologists Sellers and Shelton (2003) have found positive associations between racial centrality and the levels of perceived racial discrimination among black college students. Similarly, in the case of black LGBT individuals, I argue that their perceived experiences of racial or sexual identity-based discrimination would

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) community faces many inequalities and discrimination on a daily basis. The main purpose of this paper is to put myself and others in the shoes of the LGBTQ community, to be able to see how the rest of the world views them, and the discrimination they face. What makes this community different than the rest of us? Why must this community face bullying just because they want to live a life different from ours? These are just a few things I will be focusing on in this paper along with the history and background information about the LGBTQ community and the problems that they faced back in history. Another interest I will share is how history has changed itself; that is if it did change at all. I will also be focusing on the data and statistics of this community; I will share the positives and the negatives. Last but not least, I will then share some of the policies intact that will help the future of the LGBTQ community.

While living on the streets, LGBT youth are at greater risk of physical and sexual exploitation because they may resort to trading sex for having their basic needs met (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2009). While they are in survival mode, they often neglect their physical and mental health needs. Without access to the residential stability, nurturance, and opportunities for positive youth development provided by homeless youth service providers, LGBT homeless youth are susceptible to further challenges as adults and continued violence and exploitation on the streets, and are at great risk of entering the juvenile or criminal justice system (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2009). On the other hand, Youth “kicked out” of otherwise well-functioning homes for being LGBT had a relatively good prognosis for exiting homelessness. Their prior socialization had prepared them well for entry into conventional society and they did not have the burden of lifelong instability and trauma that characterizes most homeless youth (Keuroghlian, et al.,

A third reason why LGBTQ+ discrimination is a problem is because it can cause them to possibly lose their job or be rejected a job. According to the Human Rights Campaign, it is currently legal to discriminate on the job in 29 states, 58% of the country, and it is also legal to fire someone due to sexuality or gender expression in 33 states. It was reported that 1 out of 5 LGBTQ+ experience discrimination at work. According to Catalyst, nearly 1 and 10 LGBTQ+ employees left a job because the environment is unwelcoming. 70% percent of non-LGBTQ+ employees believe it is “unprofessional” to discuss sexual orientation or gender identity in the workplace. More than half of LGBTQ+ employees hide their sexual orientation in the workplace due to the

Sexual orientation and gender identity are two things that members of the LGBTQ community often fear opening up about. They fear that they will be rejected or harmed because of who they are, and it is important that we make all aspects of our society a safe place for every human being, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. As School-based risk and protective factors for gender diverse and sexual minority children and youth: Improving school climate explained, “64% of students feel unsafe at school because of sexual orientation prejudice, and 44% feel unsafe at school because of gender expression” (American Psychological Association). Therefore, schools in America should be making a conscious effort to make their buildings a safe, comfortable place for members of the LGBTQ community. Schools can do several things to promote the

Homosexual people are not seen by other people such as, straights; in addition, society's ideas treat them differently in marriages, workplaces and makes them have unequal partnership benefits.

The rights of the LGBTQ people have been highlighted in the United States over the past several years. The LGBTQ community is facing discrimination and a twisted portal of their character throughout the media. A more recent example of discrimination is the HB2 law that our governor Pat McCrory signed into effect in April of this year. This law created an issue that did not even exist in what feels like an attack towards the LGBTQ community. Discrimination to this community has become something that we can no longer afford to ignore. We have normalized discrimination against this group of people by allowing it to invaded our homes, schools, and workplace.

There are differences between what is considered to be prejudice and what discrimination is. Prejudice is identified as a typically negative attitude that is directed towards an individual 's social status, or group. Discrimination is reported as completing a negative act, or acts, towards a group, or individuals in a group, on the bias of the same reason or reasons. Given what is known, or inferred, about prejudice and discrimination, it can be related back to how LGBT associates are effected within athletic fields. Understanding the terminology, methods of research, development, and corrective/preventive procedures are well discussed in the field of Social Psychology.