So much has been going on lately regarding LGBTQ2+ laws and regulations, and I wanted to add my two cents. While I do not, and do not ever, represent every member of the community, I do feel that I represent a large amount regarding many of the following topics.
First and foremost, our latest "victory." The passing of a new federal law in the States protecting LGBTQ employees from discrimination. The fact that such a law needs to be passed infuriates me. This law means that an employer cannot fire an employee based on who they love. Why work and who you love is mixed together, and fireable is beyond me. Imagine you're at work. You say you went to the lake with your opposite-sex partner. What are people going to ask you? Nothing significant. Maybe what lake you went to. Then Lynda from accounting will chime in about how her husband Greg just set the boat up. Her daughter Sadie got new water wings, but little Jimmy's been giving a lot of attitude lately, and they just don't know what to do with him. Great Lynda. People roll their eyes and go back to work. Meanwhile, I say that I went to the lake with my girlfriend, my boss finds out I'm queer, they deem it an attack on their religious beliefs, and I lose my job.
You might be thinking, “wow, that’s horrible, but we have this law now. That can’t happen anymore.” Maybe, but this bill passed 6-3. Three of those people, who represent many people, feel that it's acceptable to discriminate based on sexuality. We, the LGBTQ2+ community, need LAWS so we can keep jobs. It leaves me speechless.
June 12, this year, trans people lost their health care protection in the states. During pride month, and a pandemic, AND on the anniversary of the Pulse night club shooting. If you don't know about Pulse, please look it up. On June 12, 2016, 49 people were killed, and 53 were wounded at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. For a podcast featuring the parents of a son lost in the shooting, look up “Committed,” episode name “Jerry.”
The average age of a trans woman of colour is 35. 35! The overall life expectancy in Canada is 82 years old. In the U.S., 78. Why are we not helping trans women? In Canada, there is no research or data on the number of trans people that live here. This shows the lack of commitment or care to see who makes up the population, and how many people might be struggling and need help. You cannot try to solve a problem for someone you refuse to admit exists. When you have data on a population, the government knows where to allocate funding and which cities may need more resources. This is also why filling out censuses is SO important. We must help every transgender person.
On June 4, kicking off pride month, he who shall not be named, sent a brief to the Supreme Court. It stated that adoption agencies should be legally allowed to reject same-sex couples from adopting in the States. This bill would grant adoption agencies legal protection for “free exercise of religion” when denying a same-sex couple. What’s going to happen to these children now? Twenty-one percent of same-sex couples are parenting adopted children, while three percent of opposite-sex couples are. Zero-point-four percent of opposite-sex couples foster children, while three percent of same-sex couples do. Same-sex couples are also more likely to adopt minority children, older children, and those with disabilities. When I first read about this, I was incredibly upset. It doesn't matter that this law may not ever directly affect me. It feels like an attack. It's proof that many still hold these outdated, discriminatory beliefs. It is illegal to be homosexual in 71 countries. While it is not illegal in North America, we are still fighting for fundamental rights, and when we get them, they are being taken away.
Sometimes it feels like there's no winning when in the LGBTQ2+ community. You live in secret, then you come out, and you're "free" to choose another label for yourself. We've created a structure that enforces labels and the sorting of everyone. But then once you have found your new label, you lose human rights. Tell me how that makes sense? And for those who choose not to label themselves or are non-binary (love you), there is no space for them in policy and are no longer protected. Everyone deserves rights, and your sexuality or gender should not determine if you get them.
It's no wonder why there are higher rates of depression, substance abuse, anxiety, and suicidality in the LGBTQ2+ community. We are also at double the risk of PTSD than heterosexuals. In an Ontario-based study, 77% of trans survey participants said that they had seriously considered suicide, and 45% had attempted suicide. Transgender youth are nearly four times more likely to deal with depression than non-transgender people. We deal with these things every day. We have family who don’t accept us, friends who turn on us, people who make assumptions of us just from the way we dress or act. It’s every day. We all have our stories. I have plenty; I'm just not ready to talk about any of them. We face not only homophobia from others, but internal homophobia in ourselves. While I do love my life and everyone in it, it poses its challenges.
If you are a community member and need help, you can check out the Lesbian, Gay, Bi & Trans Youthline, which offers free support for anyone under 26 years old: http://www.youthline.ca/index.php. Their number is 1-800-268-9688.The Trans Lifeline is 1-877-330-6366, and the Kid's Help Phone number is 1-800-668-6868.
The discrimination comes from within the community as well. There is a movement in the United Kingdom called the LGB Alliance that is actively fighting against transgender rights. Why? This absolutely disgusts me. The entire gay rights movement was started by Marsha P. Johnson, a black trans woman. How do you betray so many people who fought for your rights? It’s disgusting and embarrassing.
So, after all of this, some people still dare to say that our sexuality is a choice or a "lifestyle." No. Being vegetarian is a lifestyle. Being straight wasn't a lifestyle choice for you. It's who you are. And that's great, but don't say that something different is a choice. Do you honestly think that everyone getting bullied, harassed, and killed for their sexuality, wouldn't just be straight again? It seems like the easier choice, right? But it’s not who we are. It is not a choice. It only seems like a choice because of heteronormativity. Heteronormativity is so toxic, and it's everywhere.
I usually finish this blog on a positive note, but I'm pretty mad, and you should be too. Ten years from now, when you think back to this time, will you be able to say you did anything to make this better? The action you take can be big or small, but you NEED to do something. When you start setting a certain standard in your friend group and normalize letting people be themselves, this attitude will carry with the members of your group. You will take it with you everywhere you go.
You know a lot now. You know the stats, you know my story, you know that mine is not an anomaly, and you know that millions of people are being discriminated against. What are you going to do?
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