The notion of being gay, queer or identifying as a different gender to your biological CIS label, has been a concept that only within the last decade society has began to accept. Both morally and ethically, the idea that individuals are not only looked down upon and discriminated against; but are also abused and even killed because of their sexuality or gender identity, is outrageous.
In 2017 the UK government conducted a national survey into the lives of LGBT individuals. It found that 40% of people who identify as LGBT had experienced an incident in the 12 months prior to the survey, that is an astonishing 43,200 people. 2,160 of those individuals were physically assaulted. Yet despite this soaring figure, LGBTQ prejudice still happens every single day to the point where it has become widely accepted as the ‘norm’. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the survey also found “LGBT people can be unwilling to use relevant services for fear of homophobic, transphobic or biphobic responses from staff and service users”.
It makes you wonder how in 2020 we are still encountering such an horrific amount of abuse towards something as insignificant as another’s sexuality.
There is the perspective that when people encounter homophobia from someone within an older generation, it “cannot be challenged because it is just how their generation are”. This is a comment that infuriates me, not only because ethically it is completely twisted but for the reason that, this same generation stood by when LGBT individuals were unlawfully targeted by the police and members of the public, which then lead to the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Yet these acts of violence and murder, are not something of the past, it was only 3 years ago that 49 people were callously murdered in a mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando.
Those few bigotry comments you heard from an older work colleague, friend, or family member, may only be a fraction of a larger cohort inflicting extended abuse, however the attitude of letting “minor” incidents slide, only encourages the cruelty.
It is important to acknowledge that if someone has been brought up with the societal view that LGBT people, and those of colour are “immoral”, then of course education needs to be put into place. The problem lies however, when their responses to being confronted for their
discriminative behaviour, is the phrase “Snowflake generation” and the incompetence to listen. Confronting these issues do not make my generation too sensitive, it means that we have acceptance, empathy and strength. We are not going to tolerate prejudicial comments resulting in horrific deaths and deteriorating mental health.
You are not born racist or homophobic, you are conditioned by society to have these views. You can choose to listen, to educate yourself and others. If you make the conscious decision to stand by, and watch someone discriminate another human being for a small part of their identity, you are just as bad as the primary attack.
Nonetheless, it should not just be the most extreme physical cases that are taken with rigor, the brutality within the everyday lives of LGBT individuals is highly distressing. Everyday life for people who I identify as part of the LGBT community, can be considerably harder. For example, there is a significant increase in homelessness within the LGBT community, with 1 in 4 trans people experiencing discrimination whilst finding rented accommodation.
However, it is not just adults that suffer from homophobia, transphobia and biphobia, it happens in education too. Moreover, 9% of hateful incidences relating to their sexual or gender identity that occurred within education, were perpetrated by a member of staff. There needs to be a zero-tolerance policy within educational institutions with regards to homophobia, whether it is a throw away comment or a targeted verbal assault. Yet 88% of these went unreported or dealt with by the educational institution.
The notion that the vast majority of the incidences were not dealt with is a horrific example of the lack of equality within the duty of care. No matter your perception of that individual’s identity, whether that be a CIS Heterosexual or LGBTQ, no one should be forced to declare a label for their sexuality, just for the issue to be dealt with.
The harsh reality is that ‘LGBT youth seriously contemplate suicide at almost three times the rate of heterosexual youth’. Not to mention that young LGBT youth who have grown up in highly rejecting families are 8.4 times more likely to have attempted suicide. Being abandoned and isolated by people who are supposed to care for you unconditionally, can have extreme adverse effects on an individual’s mental health.
To feel so worthless and unaccepted due to something you cannot change, is devastating. So, if someone reaches out, please take it seriously, you never know how close someone is to crisis point. It is not just about dealing with that one incident, that act of support, could be the only reason that they wake up in the morning.
Be Kind, reach out and most importantly no matter your sexual or gender identity - stand up for what is right. If nothing changes, then nothing will change.
If you are struggling with anything mentioned within this article, please reach out:
SAMARTIANS: 116 123
SWITCHBOARD (LGBT) HELPLINE: 0300 330 0630 or chris@switchboard.lgbt
STATISTIC RESOURCES USED:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-lgbt-survey-summary-report/national-lgbtsurvey-summary-report
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/preventing-suicide/facts-about-suicide/
https://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/talking-about-suicide-and-lgbt-populations_1.pdf