M71

Issue that LGBTQIA+ youth may face in their lives, abridged version.

July 04 2021

I'm a white cis-gender male studying for a retirement career in community services at TAFE, these are extracts from a diversity assignment I did on the issues facing LGBTQIA+ youth today. It takes the form of a training module for the staff at our "virtual" community services centre. Cultural Awareness, we acknowledge the differences and similarities between cultural groups. By doing so we aim to enhance communication between groups, this is especially relevant to the LGBTQI+ community because it has great diversity within all of its sub-groups. Cultural Safety, involves actions which reflect and nurture the cultural perspective of other groups. Cultural Respect, recognizes, respects and promotes the rights and traditions of other cultures and groups. Cultural Competence, accepts and respects cultural differences without expecting our own behaviours and beliefs to be the norm. Personal Cultural Competence, means we accept and increase our knowledge of other cultures and to use that knowledge to enhance our service to them. LGBTQI+ youth soon learn about the homophobia which is a catch all term for prejudice against the LGBTQI+ community. There are various aspects to homophobia including fear, aversion, contempt and ignorance, often related to strong religious beliefs. In extreme cases this can result in hate crimes which are yet another source of stress and anxiety to the LGBTQI+ youth. No reliable statistics are available for this, the most “at risk” minority group, because these crimes are under reported. Less immediately threatening are attitudes such as conservatism, corporate attitudes, beliefs that homosexuality is linked to pedophilia that homosexuality is being “promoted” and homophobic rhetoric. LGBTQI+ youth who have parental support are much less at risk of self-harm and suicidal ideation. Interpersonal homophobia The overt form of homophobia is a dislike, fear or hatred, it is often expressed through shunning, ostracism, discrimination and harassment or violence towards LGBTQI+ people, most of whom experience some form of verbal abuse or physical assault during their lives. Institutional homophobia Corporations, churches and others continue to discriminate against people because of their sexuality. As this is illegal under the Sex Discrimination Act of 1984 they are often cloaked in a set of invisible double standards. The objective of this proposed program is to draw attention to the issues that the LGBTQI+ youth face, in everyday life and as they develop. It is our intention to help them out from the shadowed world of the closet and into the light where they can see and be seen in a safe manner. Remembering the term LGBTQI+ is a composite of the various groups who are diverse in their diversity and explaining this is yet another objective to be addressed. Perceptions and appearances are issues we feel the need to explain, how the LGBTQI+ community sees itself is just the beginning. How mainstream society sees the LGBTQI+ community and how the LGBTQI+ community feels that they are perceived are very different things. Disaffection, the LGBTQI+ community has historically lived on or beyond the fringe of mainstream society. The roller coaster ride of being LGBTQI+ begins quite early in life when they learn that they are different to the mainstream population. By puberty’s onset the majority of LGBTQI+ youth are becoming aware of their sexuality to some extent, they are also learning that they don’t fit into the binary and heteronormative world. This mostly happens against the backdrop of high school where, as we know, children can be very cruel. They hear the terms “dyke”, “faggot” being used, even before they realise being LGBTQI+ is their reality. Hearing “that’s gay” used as a pejorative term further enforces the view that the world is a homophobic place. Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia and Lesbophobia, there are numerous aspects to homophobia, which are addressed elsewhere, all forms of homophobia are barriers to the LGBTQI+ community participation in the world at large. These phobias range from extreme hate crimes through to invisible prejudice. As a result of these attitudes the LGBTQI+ community is always on the defensive and as a community has issues with acceptance and esteem. Conservatism, separate to homophobia there are elements of conservatism which are resistant to change. This inertia is a cultural barrier which needs sustained pressure to shift. If we look back over the decades we can see that first there was a push to de-crimininalise homosexuality before it was legalised. Since then we have progressed to the point of legalising same sex marriage. Bias, there are numerous forms of bias, in this instance I distinguish between prejudice and bias on the basis of intent. Where Given that most of the population are heteronormative it is not surprising that there will be bias against the LGBTQI+ community. The diversity within the LGBTQI+ community is yet another factor which complicates the issues thereby increasing the tendency towards bias, because simply put it is just too hard for many. The term cross-cultural communication has its origins in the Cold war era as the world’s global markets were expanding, since then it has evolved to include sub-cultures within our own society, in this instance it’s the LGBTQI+ community we’re focusing on. As allies of the LGBTQI+ community we need to address them in the safest possible manner. A good start is to use the pronouns most preferred by the LGBTQI+ community, which are generally they, them and theirs rather than he, she, his and hers. Asking questions is also a good approach, firstly questions are an excellent way to establish the pronouns which people prefer to use. It is often said that the only stupid question is the one you didn’t ask. By asking questions it helps to avoid and breakdown stereotyping and assumptions, this is particularly helpful when negotiating the minefield of gender identity. It is also vitally important not to be judgmental and to be supportive, this is the essence of this proposed support program for the LGBTQI+ community. Effective communications are enhanced by active listening, which goes beyond just hearing the spoken word but also to observe the body language, tone and general demeanour of the people we’re talking too. If we set goals for Diversity and Inclusiveness (D & I) we will find that we are going to reap the benefits which come from a having a new set of eyes looking at things as they see them, rather than the same old people doing the same old things in the same old way. In short, we will celebrate and accept change, not fight it. Cultural Competence must be part of the package of improved D & I, by doing this we will tap into perspectives and practices which are not only new to us but also have benefits we might not have expected. In the case of the LGBTQI+ community they will bring sensitivities which simply do not exist in our hetero-normative cis-gender world. Just as some workplaces hold regular “Toolbox Meetings” holding meetings or surveying staff views on matters relating to D & I will help to hold a mirror to what is happening in the workplace. There is a truism that a moment’s insight can be worth a lifetime’s experience, so D & I is an asset which can be of great benefit to all.

Comments

Phoenix_Rising

3 years ago

I think all youths face these challenges regardless of sexuality/gender. I can tell you it’s no easier growing up with any other mental illness either, chronic depression and the feeling that you don’t belong in a world full of psychopaths is a real struggle, feeling that you don’t have a voice and having to accept that which you do not like can also be very challenging, I hope those children are getting help and understanding too. Everything gets shoved down our throats with such force these days it’s hard not to choke sometimes, we need to remember it’s ok for people not to like or want to be around certain people, things or situations, as long as they’re not rude. People on all sides need to be more understanding of the fact that not everybody is going to like or accept their way of life, be it regarding mental illness, religion, sexual preferences, sports team preferences, clothing choice or anything else. I’m all for people doing their own thang, I just don’t feel it needs to be shoved in my face as much as it is, I simply don’t care who they wish to sleep with, worship or anything else, I just care if they’re a decent person.

reply

like
Phoenix_Rising

3 years ago

I also think if someone has a phobia they probably deserve a little more understanding, that’s an uncontrollable mental illness too and probably quite distressing for them, let’s not forget that. A lot of dislike is probably mislabeled and called a phobia when it’s actually just a preference.

reply

like
RHP User

3 years ago

A very informative post and the issue of sexual diversity is always relevant. Having worked in a sector that specialised in this area, all that you have raised is important. While it may be said that our society is aware of differences, these differences are not usually accepted intraculturally. There are many LGBTIQI+ youth who will struggle to come out with their sexuality and may face ostracism from their immediate families. This portion of youth are more vulnerable than heterosexual youth, who face few hurdles as their sexuality is still perceived as the norm and while other wider social sectors would not flinch at sexual diversity, for a youth, the most anxious phase is confirming their orientation to parents. That is the first hurdle. For myself, having worked with transgender youth for a time, the initial hurdle will be parental and/or extended family. This may be followed by peers (high school etc). Thankfully secondary schools are well equipped to handle issues that may arise, but on an individual level, a transgender youth for example may still face discrimination from their peers - away from school staff/teachers. I think that regular education and awareness keeps individuals in check of their own biases in schools and the workplace and this does help in minimising (and addressing) discrimination.

reply

like
SpicyKale

3 years ago

As I said when you posted originally, so much of this resonates. One thing I think that is important to mention, is that none of this is trying to delete or diminish the problems and issues that the wider cis gendered straight community faces. A lot of this is just trying to even out the inequalities the LGBTQIA community has faced since forever. Yes, the community is quite vocal about the push for equal rights, but historically nothing ever changes by being quiet about it. Since before the Stonewall riots in the late sixties the community has taken a proactive push towards equality and it’s taken that full fifty years, plus some. We have a community wide mental health issue in Australia, I think this needs to be a push from the entire population against our governments no matter the persuasion. This isn’t us vs them, it’s all of us working together to drive change in our healthcare system.

reply

like
Phoenix_Rising

3 years ago

Guess I’m just not in an area where there’s more discrimination happening to them than anyone else, in fact they’re usually the popular kids at school and all the gender labeled people I know have good jobs....I’m sorry, I just don’t see how they’re so hard done by these days, in fact it’s looking like straight white people are the ones under attack now, especially the middle aged and elderly. It’s utter bullshit in my experience, I’ve copped more discrimination and racism than the gays and natives I know but everybody says it’s not a thing because I’m supposedly the privileged one with the easy life who caused these problems for the minority groups 😂😂😂 give me a break! People just need to stop making an issue of it, help people with their problem without labelling them and implying that one person’s problem is more important than another’s because it has the LGBQTI+ label attached to it. That’s what’s causing the division.

reply

like
RHP User

3 years ago

Can’t we just all get along and be the victimised minority together?

reply

like
AnnieWhichway

3 years ago

My views on the whole deal changes each day l get out of bed. There is never a day though that it doesn't enter my mind. Sometimes l think the youth of today is a little soft. I could dream of how good it would be to grow up in today's acceptance culture after the culture of my youth, my life. But still, so far still to evolve. Perhaps we confuse and co mingle the everyday pressures of modern life with the added pressure of our sexuality differences. Each is a hurdle, each has to dealt with. We as an accepting society has come a long way but still a long way left. Moreso outside of the metropolitan area. Most country areas are 40 years behind, not a great place to be different.

reply

like
RHP User

3 years ago

What does the QIA part stand for..?

reply

like

Issue that LGBTQIA+ youth may face in their lives, abridged version.

Comments

Tags

Boards

Forum help