“An overwhelming majority - 92 percent - of America's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community say they feel more accepted today than 10 years ago; however 53 percent still feel that discrimination exists.” (Hargo ) I want to take a closer look at why does 53 percent still are afraid of coming out. With a lot of research done I have answer some questions I had. The amount of Americans who have identified themselves as Gay, lesbian or other has increased. "In the year of 2016, there are 10.1 million people who are LGBT in 2012 it was 8.3 million." (Brown). According to Heatherington and Lavner (2008), disclosing one’s sexual orientation as gay or lesbian (coming out) to family members is a very important psychological decision and is perceived as an obstacle by the individual making the disclosure. " Fear of negative consequences is one of the obstacles that those making the disclosure take into consideration.” (Perrin-Wallqvist & Lindblom). You have grown up with your family your whole life and they have been there for you, but because of your sexual preference, they all have abandoned you. LGBT teens have a fear of coming out and been denied by their own family member how are they going to face the cruel world without their family support? Does the fear of coming out start within your own family household? Why is coming out so difficult?
To begin I want to address that coming out as is very hard process no one has said it was easy. With the researcher I have done
Published by the Huffington Post, 20 year old Austin Fisher voices his process of coming out in his article entitled “The 3 Sides to my Coming Out Story”. I choose to analyze and reflect on this text for I believe it displays various situations and perceptions in response to one coming out. The author starts by explaining how he came to terms with himself. When Fisher was younger he idolized his brother’s bravery for announcing his homosexuality to the world. This planted a seed in Fisher’s mind that would not seem to stop growing. Though deep down he knew he was gay, he was not ready to admit it to himself or the outside world. Instead, Fisher suppressed his “gay side” and reinvented himself. He got a girlfriend and views “coming out” as overrated, for Fisher views it as unfair and unjust that because of his inherently “wrong” sexualtity he has to go through an emotional process of explaining who he is attracted to the people he loves.
Part of my training in becoming a counselor, I have developed and continue to develop skill to advocate for all youths. Through mindfulness training, I want be an advocate for LGBTQ youths by empowering them and providing useful skills that promote independent living. Every youth, gender conforming or non-gender conforming, deserves the right to live a success, content and fulfill life.
These costs and effects are in are in another research project. Markus Bidell, Professor of Education at CUNY, research stress levels in the LGBT Homeless Youth. “Is There an Emotional Cost of Completing High School? Ecological Factors and Psychological Distress Among LGBT Homeless Youth,” was a conducted study of LGBT homeless youth experiences in during high school (Bidell 366). Bidell reported that 40 percent did not compete high school, and most did not search for support from GSAs and school staff (Ibid). His concluding finding found that sexual minorities stress comes from harassment in their community, while at school has little effect (Ibid). While school life has become less hard on the mental health of LGBT youth, the community (house and street life) forces them to be challenged by more factors.
Throughout my life I have experienced many things that have molded me into the person I am today, but the one I find most profound involves my coming out as a member of the LGBT+ community.
In March of 2006 The Liberty University of Lynchburg Virginia arrested gay rights Advocates on their campus.Liberty University is a public campus which means they receive federal funding.Universities that are private do not obtain funds from the government. Liberty University is a public Baptist campus which means it receives funds from the United States government.Public universities are required to comply with Title-IX.This prevents Colleges from discriminating against LGBT students and applicants based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sexual preference.However, campuses like Liberty University find ways to be exempt from this bill.
In March of 2006 Liberty University of Lynchburg Virginia arrested gay rights Advocates on their campus.Liberty University is a public campus which means they receive federal funding.Universities that are private do not obtain funds from the government. Liberty University is a public Baptist campus which means it receives funds from the United States government.Public universities are required to comply with Title-IX.This prevents Colleges from discriminating against LGBT students and applicants based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sexual preference.However campuses like Liberty University find ways to be exempt from this bill.
In the video “When Coming Out Gets Better Than You Thought” it shows acceptance has become easier and more people are able to express they truly are as an individual. Years before it was considered a sin and an inappropriate act when people came out. Today it is more acceptable and many people support the same-sex individuals. However, when it's the person's’ time to come out, it can be difficult for them due to how before it was very strict and unacceptable then, even though time has change, certain individuals do not feel confident because they feel as they are the victim and are unable to express who they truly because of what people might say or how they will respond. The way society reacts to people who come out today, it’s appropriate
Adolescence is a difficult stage in life because it is a time for many when social status is seen as very important and self-esteem can be fragile. One’s social status can directly affect one’s self esteem and overall happiness. Unfortunately, many of those who possess a higher social status in middle and high school use it against those who are deemed socially inferior to them, whether that is due to race, attractiveness, intelligence or sexuality. In other words, the adolescents at the bottom of the social pyramid are often subjected to bullying and harassment from their socially “superior” classmates. Bullying
It’s very likely that LGBTQ youth are not able to get the help in school which causes them to have low self-esteem, not show up to school, and even engage in risky behavior. School psychologists must provide services for their entire student body and that includes youth apart of the LGBTQ community. Regardless of what their beliefs are it’s important that they give LGBTQ youth the support that they need and also help them work towards a positive identity while going the process of coming out. To assist LGBTQ youth with the decision of coming out, school therapists must create an environment that is conducive to trust, provide resources that will educate and foster empathy, and great care must be given to the type of therapy.
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.
Many negative stereotypes are the cause of homosexuals failing to come out the closet to their friends, family and loved ones. There are also positive effects to coming out as well but the negative opinions of some has triumphed across the nation during the last decade. Even though it may seem that our country has come a long way and accepts homosexuals, we still have a long way to go. Why do such stereotypes override the good effects of coming out gay? Coming out as a homosexual improves the quality of life such as making the individual feel confident and happier within. My own experience will serve as an example on how these things can reduce the confidence level in someone that wants to be open to friends, family and loved ones.
The mental health of individuals in the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered) community is something that is a serious problem. For most of the history of the United States and many different parts of the world LGBT people faced much persecution and in some cases even death. This constant fear of discovery and the pressure that one feels on oneself when “in the closet” can lead to major mental distress. Research has shown that people who identify as LGBT are twice as likely to develop lifetime mood and anxiety disorders (Bostwick 468). This is extremely noticeable the past couple years in the suicides of bullied teens on the basis of sexual identity and expression. The stigma on simply being perceived as LGBT is strong enough to
What is equality? Is it just a political nomenclature or an ideological concept? Or is about working towards creating a fairer society in which each individual can enjoy his/her rights and freedom without any judgement considering that “[w]e will never have true civilization until we have learned to recognize the rights of others.” Will Rogers (1924, p210).
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, also known as LGBT population have experienced a great deal of oppression worldwide. These particular individuals undergo discrimination from society, whether for reasons of ignorance, fear or intolerance, this population faces challenges in multiple areas of social justice sexual. Although the LGBT culture has made some strides in the areas of state and federal legislation, there is still a wide range of criminalization that takes place within our culture. Understanding the LGBT community and the history of their oppression may be the first step in becoming culturally competent. For many years this culture was denied their basic constitutional rights that were afforded to their equal heterosexual peers. Basic rights such as, adoption and marriage were uncommon to this culture until the 20th century.
Within the last decade society has become more open to ideology and lifestyles that years ago were tabo. This is largely due to the fact that the millennial generation may be one of the most laid back and accepting generations of all time. One major lifestyle that was rarely expected was homosexuality within the last decade this issue is no longer in the closet. Most people feel comfortable being open about their lifestyle choice and even show it off. Shortly after the acceptance of gays by society a new issue presented itself and this is transgender people. The community as whole fights for their rights together and it is referred to as LGBTQ. LGBTQ means lesbians, gays, transgender, bisexual, and queer. The LGBTQ community has made great progress in the last decade they have become more open about their community and have gained rights that they should have always had. Even though the community has made progress they still have a long way way to go especially within the workplace.