Behind Rainbows: LGBTQ+ Journey and Representation in Society
It is remarkable from when the calendar has counted the day from when the community uncovered the truth about what truly constitutes an individual’s identity. Sex is not limited to males and females; consequently, individuals opt out to express their preferences, sexuality and perceived identity. According to the Human Rights Campaign (n.d.), an individual’s identity is defined as their “innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both, or neither.” It is how an individual perceives and refers to themselves. Notwithstanding the fact encompassing sex, different genders within society arose and added color to the entire globe.
Every June, the LGBTQ+ community, also known as Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Queer, and other sexual orientations, celebrate Pride Month to honor the Stonewall riots Movement in 1969 in the United States, which changed genders’ rights (Newsround, 2021) where people would be marching and participating in parades to promote acceptance, gender equality, and ongoing awareness of the LGBTQ+ community. Different events uphold the genders’ way of expressing themselves in front of a large crowd and even within their own small circle. However, many people continue to reject the reality encompassing sexual identity. Numerous members of the LGBTQ+ community continue to experience physical and mental violence as a result of others’ refusal to accept them as members of society.
Stigma and violence faced by LGBTQ+
According to MERCED at the University of California, LGBTQ+ people face higher poverty rates, stigma, and marginalization, all of which contribute to sexual assault. Additionally, these people face hate-motivated violence, which degrades their relationship and can result in an intimate partner’s cruelty proceeding from intense homophobia and shame. Studies revealed that approximately half of transgender and bisexual women experience sexual violence during the years of existence (Human Rights Campaign, n.d.). Many people or those homophobic still uphold discrimination which leads to traumatizing and increasing fear of genders in their lives.
From any angle, some genders do not perceive a peaceful space in which to express themselves and act in accordance with their perceptions. Furthermore, sexual violence does not only occur in an intimate relationship but also in a particular household. Numerous members of the community are having difficulty coming out because they believe their families will not accept them for who they are. As a result, they continue to live as a closed-person hiding the rainbow behind. Human Rights Campaign conducted a survey to more than 12,000 teen members of LGBTQ and later found out that 67 percent report they hear negative comments about LGBTQ people from the family.
According to the Gender Law Equality Center, LGBTQ+ endure the unconcealed gender bias in public and private life constituting housing, employment, opportunities in academic settings, purchasing goods and services, and societal issues and development participation. The organization also added that 41% of gay and lesbian adults face workplace antagonism or harassment, including termination or coercion due to their sexual identity. On the other hand, ABS-CBN News reported last 2019 that a transgender woman was arrested after confronting a janitress for being victimize just because she went to the female bathroom in a public mall. The janitress used derogatory language and committed sexual harassment against a member of the LGBTQ community.
LGBTQ+ fight for Rights
Equal rights for all genders still speak volumes across the world. It is not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, gay, and queer people, but also to biological sexes such as female and male. In the 1970s and 1980s, a nascent gay liberation movement led by transgender women Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera founded The Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries, which provided housing for homeless LGBTQ youth and sex workers. Additionally, the two advocates fought for the rights of HIV-positive individuals and were opposed to transgender people being excluded from New York’s 2002 Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (Li, 2021).
In the Philippines, Atty. Ma. Jiandra Bianca F. Deslate of Divina Law elaborates a bill that protects and prevents the rights of every gender in any aspect of life. SOGIE Bill or Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression listed practices as discriminatory and unlawful under the bill, such as refutation of rights to LGBTQ+ community in accessing public services, using establishments, and applying for a professional license. Moreover, different treatment to the employees or rejection to educational institutions and other organizations will be penalized. On the other hand, numerous individuals continue to advocate for same-sex marriage in the Philippines.
Some argue that the country is centered on Catholicism, hence, the law should not be passed. In contrast to this notion, expanding civil marriage to people of the same sex upholds and demonstrates commitment to the fundamental rights of equality and non-discrimination, and thus should be considered by Philippine law (Conde, 2017). According to USA Today, only 29 out of 195 countries across the world have legalized same-sex marriage (Green, 2019). Numerous countries continue to restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ people and obstruct the development of love between their partners. Many people are never tired of fighting for equality and relentlessly work to eradicate oppression throughout the world.
As stated by Outright Action International, pride is a perceptible symbol of the world’s movement for LGBTIQ equality, celebrating progress, recognizing them, and demanding fundamental rights for freedom of expression. The continuous celebration of Pride Month in June signifies that individuals still see discrimination and inequality in how LGBTQ+ people are treated, thus march to fight for every right they deserve, to put an end to violence and brutality among them, and to achieve respect and acceptance from society. It is not solely a parade with rainbows; rather, it serves as a constant reminder to the general crowd about the LGBTQ+ community.
What people can do be an Ally
Every single person possesses the potential to be an Ally regardless of their sexual orientation. When someone comes out or expresses themselves to you, it demonstrates their trust in you and their desire for comfort while in your company. An Ally is a person who supports, empowers, and seeks to understand the experiences of LGBTQ people. Caroll (2020) states that in order to be an Ally, one must be willing to educate themselves and listen to what LGBTQ+ members have to say and the power of words they used to convey themselves.
Additionally, she added that an Ally must be consistent in upholding, effectively defending rights that they are full of initiative and courage to speak up whenever hearing discriminatory words about them. Understanding one’s own privileges can help the Ally empathize with oppressed individuals. To recognize pronouns, use gender-neutral language, inquire when in doubt, admit wrongdoings, and openly grasp to absorb knowledge hold a significant value to LGBTQ+ members. The Youth Engage Change also added that being an Ally, they must engage their support to the policies and rules that safeguard the welfare of a person who is a part of LGBTQ+. It is essential to know that everyone deserves to be treated fairly despite their preferences in life. Individuals must recognize that others have a means of expressing themselves to those with whom they interact and share ideas.
Everyone must unite behind advocates, bills, and rules that provide protection for those who society ignores. LGBTQ+ is not different and is worthy of acceptance and respect. They pursue a life that promotes peace and centered with humanity because they are also people breathing the same air in this world. No matter what they choose, recognizing them as members of society enables them to be themselves without hindrances and prejudices when walking and living their lives to the fullest. It is always the rainbows after the rain that people see as hope.
REFERENCES:
ABS-CBN News. (2019, August 13). Trans woman detained after being harassed for using ladies’ toilet in QC mall. https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/13/19/trans-woman-arrested-after-prevented-from-using-womens-comfort-room-in-qc-mall
Caroll, N. (2020, December 3). 7 ways you can be a better LGBTQ+ ally. Students. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/students/news/2020/dec/7-ways-you-can-be-better-lgbtq-ally
Conde, C. (2017). Philippines Should Adopt Same-Sex Marriage. https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/03/20/philippines-should-adopt-same-sex-marriage
A. (2021, June 30). The SOGIE Equality Bill. DivinaLaw. https://www.divinalaw.com/news-and-updates/sogie-equality-bill/
Astrid Galvan, Associated Press. (2020, October 2). Study finds LGBTQ people much likelier to be crime victims. PBS NewsHour. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/study-finds-lgbtq-people-much-likelier-to-be-crime-victims
Gender Equality Law Center (n.d). LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER & QUEER {LGBTQ}. https://www.genderequalitylaw.org/lgbtq
Green, J. U. T. (2019, June 13). 29 countries where same sex marriage is officially legal. WLST. https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/06/13/countries-where-same-sex-marriage-is-officially-legal/39514623/
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Definitions. (n.d.). HRC. Retrieved July 2, 2021, from https://www.hrc.org/resources/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-terminology-and-definitions
Li, A. (2021). Human Rights Hero: The LGBTQ Rights Movement. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/publications/human_rights_magazine_home/civil-rights-reimagining-policing/human-rights-hero/
Newsround (2021) Pride month: What is it and why do people celebrate it? — CBBC Newsround. BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/52872693
Outright Action International (n.d.).PRIDE AROUND THE WORLD. https://outrightinternational.org/PrideBrief
Youth Engaged Change (n.d.). Being an Ally to LGBT People. https://engage.youth.gov/resources/being-ally-lgbt-people
