Fighting LGBTQIA+ Discrimination

Content warning: the following article contains slurs, offensive language and descriptions of discrimination that may be triggering for some readers.

A quick history of LGBTQ Discrimination: 

Discrimination has been a long standing constraint of members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Homosexuality was considered a mental illness, rooted in the belief that non-procreative sexual acts were “unnatural”, and later being incorrectly perceived as “dysphoria”*. The fields of medicine, psychiatry, and religion, all had something to say about sexuality. However it seems that throughout history homosexuality has existed (think of the 17th century gay and lesbian pirate ships, The Sacred Band of Thebes, history of male prostitution) and some of the most prominent historical figures were in fact gay.

During the 20th century, there were many debates between psychology professionals over what homosexuality was, whether it was ‘natural’ or a form of mental illness. 

As debates continued the general public became more aware of the existence of LGBTQ+ peoples. In America, the heavy discrimination towards LGBTQ+ people eventually lead to the famous Stonewall riots in 1969 — a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. This was one of the first times that LGBTQ+ people in New York and around the world felt part of a community. This sparked a radical change in society and cultural views during the 1970s, and in 1973 the term ‘homosexuality’ was initially removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Some psychological professionals argued that there were individuals that suffered “unwanted homosexual attraction” that interfered with the “initiation or maintenance of wanted heterosexual relationships” and enforced the new term “ego dystonic homosexuality” to be listed in the DSM III in 1980. This was later removed from the DSM III in 1986. 

““On May 17, 1990 - the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia & Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) celebrates LGBTQIA+ people globally, and raises awareness for the work still needed to combat discrimination.” ”

— - IDAHOBIT website 

Graphic by Amelia Asciutto

The breadcrumbs of prejudice today:

There’s been a huge change of course for LGBTQ+ people in history, and many milestones have been achieved. Yet, as much as LGBTQ+ people are out, loud and proud in the 21st century — which is always something to be celebrated — it seems that there are still breadcrumbs of the prejudice that has been embedded in history. 

Much of that is brought through intergenerational teachings, trauma, and adopted beliefs due to stigma and slander when our ancestors were young, which has subconsciously been passed down to the sequential generations. Vocabulary considered as hate speech back in the day are now used in everyday conversations in high schools and workplaces. Common experiences for LGBTQ+ people when coming out is:

• being met with berating questions (Have you always been like that? Is it my fault? What about when you dated so-and-so?)

• disapproving comments from family members and friends (I think gay people have enough, you don’t have to be so loud, why do you have to talk about it? Two men ok but two girls? Ew.)

• a shift in attitudes towards the ‘out’ person (Oh, they’re no fun anymore, they’re too sensitive, they’re too different)

• casual mockery that actually leaves a negative connotation (that’s gay, she’s a dyke, what a fag, be careful not to make your brother/sister jump the fence)

Photo by Shane on Unsplash

Your experiences with LGBTQIA+ Discrimination

Last week we asked the audience of KOS Magazine to share their experiences of LGBTQ+ Discrimination as queer identifying and as a LGBTQ+ ally*. 

One queer identifying respondent reported that they felt “self conscious” around family members and in work and social settings due to their identity. 

Another respondent noted that they grew up around cousins who “often made jokes about people who looked/acted like a "hommos" (their take on the word 'homo')”, making them feel “ashamed, embarrassed, frightened, and silenced”. 

“At my previous job my manager and coworkers would use words like "f*g", "lesbian", "gay", and "d*ke" in a derogatory way, even after I explained that I was uncomfortable with those words. Often they'd use the word, and then jokingly apologise for saying it... This made me feel ashamed, angry, and silenced.”

- JB

Their work colleagues who knew of their queer identity would use the words "f*g", "lesbian", "gay" in a “derogatory” way and “jokingly apologise” later, further making the responded feel alienated and silenced. Another respondent added that they’ve heard similar words thrown around in casual mockery, when expressing disgust, or leading up to physical violence. 

Those on the multi-sexual spectrum (MSPEC) are faced with discrimination from those both within the LGBTQ+ community and outside of it, often being made to feel invalid, ‘confused’ and belittled for their sexual identity. Many MSPEC individuals report that they experience prejudice towards their relationships, in that they’re either unfaithful or somehow fake in their identity. 

“I'm bisexual… I received biphobia from people within the community and those out of it. People don't view my relationship as valid if I'm not dating who they expect me to.”

- Anonymous

Gender-diverse respondents also voiced that the online communities are not often “considerate or understanding of trans men and women” and “[they] often refer to the individuals as their pre-trans pronouns, and call them by their pre-trans gender ("that's a man, that's a woman" etc).”

As a result of these experiences of discrimination, LGBTQ+ people often do a ‘risk analysis’ on who they disclose their sexuality to, are conscious of how they dress and act in order to “make [themselves]... less visibly queer”, and avoid discussions around dating and LGBTQ+ topics with friends, family and colleagues in order to protect themselves. Despite having a community that’s well known, its members are still facing the possibility of discrimination every day. Hesitancy, self-consciousness, and self-protective strategies may aid in a queer person’s protection, but it ultimately alienates and silences them from expressing themselves and feeling like they belong in the wider community.  

It is also important to note that the discrimination that LGBTQ+ people face not only affects them, but also hurts those outside of the community. One LGBTQ+ ally reports observing discrimination towards queer people in “online comments”, which makes them “feel scared to question [their] own gender and sexual identity”. From this experience, the ally says that they feel “really upset that [their] LGBTQ+ identifying friends have to go through it all the time” however they are also conscious of how they speak up for their queer and gender diverse friends “without speaking out of turn as a cis-het* person”.

Photo by Jana Sabeth on Unsplash

So how do we help create a more safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQIA+ people? 

Queer identifying individuals are calling for more LGBTQIA+ education and normalisation from childhood, including “awareness of terminology” and non-heterosexual sex education to be included in school curriculums. Our LGBTQIA+ survey respondents, including an ally, also have some pretty handy suggestions on creating awareness and safety for everyone:

• “Keep conversations open and understanding, and to always exercise patience. People from both sides need to keep in mind that everyone's understanding of gender is so varied, and it is unfair to assume that everyone had 100% understanding of the spectrum of gender and sexuality. We only take steps backwards when one community antagonises the other, and this includes members of the LGBTQIA+ antagonising those who are not.” (Anonymous, Queer Identifying)

• “Active allyship - be the person in the room who DOESN'T say silent. If you think ‘someone should say/do something’. YOU are someone. You are in far less danger than we are if we speak out.” (Anonymous, Queer Identifying)

• “Always defend your LGBTQ+ identifying friends if they are discriminated against online or in real life, correct others when they say something that could be interpreted as homophobic or transphobic, and check in with your friends to make sure they are okay, and feel safe around you and others.” (Anonymous, LGBTQ+ Ally)

For more information on fighting discrimination and educating on LGBTQ+ discrimination:

• Check out the IDAHOBIT Minus18 website!

• Sign up your workplace or school for workshops hosted by Minus18, specialising in teaching inclusivity.

• Equality Australia leads movements designed to better support the LGBTQ+ community, has resources, and also keeps you up to date on the most recent issues impacting LGTBQ+ people and what the organisation is working on.

* ”dysphoria” - in that the individual could not control their homosexual attraction and it inhibited them from their ‘desired heterosexual relationships’

*It is important to note that respondents were between the ages of 18-24 and as such experiences are relevant to this age group.

*cis-het: meaning someone who identifies as both cisgender and heterosexual

WORDS: AMELIA ASCIUTTO, JEANNE CARLOS
PHOTOGRAPHY: IAN TAYLOR, SHANE, AND JANA SABETH VIA UNSPLASH