6 ways LGBTQ+ people still face discrimination in countries with progressive laws

The laws governing the rights of LGBTQ+ people vary across regions and countries.

You might live in a country with progressive laws that promote equality, but the LGBTQ+ people in your life may very likely face discrimination, harassment, and even violence.

Top (Left to Right): Pride Parade San Jose, Costa Rica 2018. Pride Parade, New York, USA 2019. Pride Parade in Geneva, Switzerland 2019. Soweto Pride, Limpopo, South Africa 2012.

Bottom (Left to Right): Protest for LGBTQI+ equality outside Commonwealth Secretariat Headquarters, London, England 2015. ACT-UP AIDS Demonstration at Capitol Hill, USA 2000. Seoul Queer Pride Parade, Korea, 2019. Pride Parade, Mexico City, Mexico 2020.

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

In many countries, LGBTQ+ advocates have successfully fought:

• For equal rights for queer people.

• Against laws barring same-sex relationships.

• Against discrimination in finance, housing, employment, etc.

However, the laws created to promote equality for LGBTQ+ people are only one measure of the social and culture acceptance and treatment that each person gets in each country.

Healthcare

• Medical prejudice and discriminatory government health policy

• Medical abuse — poor HIV and AIDS treatment, lack of gender affirming surgery, and conversion therapy

Social scapegoating

• Hate speech

• Seen as a threat to "traditional" family by some religious and conservative groups

• Blamed for social, economic, and political problems

Economic Discrimination

• Job discrimination

• Housing discrimination

• Homeless and poverty

Legal Discrimination

• Anti-gay/anti-trans policies

• Violence against LGBTQ+ people ignored or downplayed by the state

Mental Health

• Bullying

• School discrimination

• Social exclusion

Erasure

• Silencing activists

• Legal attacks

• Forced exile

Different LGBTQ+ people can have different experiences in the same country.

Laws ≠ Equality

• Marriage equality and anti-discrimination laws don't always mean acceptance.

• LGBTQ+ individuals face different levels of discrimination in these "equal" societies.

Social & Cultural Acceptance Vary

• Avoid labeling countries as "best" and "worst" for LGBTQ+ people.

• Even in "good" countries, LGBTQ+ people suffer from community violence and exclusion.

The thought of getting involved can be scary, regardless if you're an ally or a part of the community. You can choose what type of role you want to play and how involved you want to be.

Do...

• Accept LGBTQ+ friends and family for who they are

• Vote for politicians with a track record of positive LGBTQ+ work

• Donate to LGBTQ+ organizations

• Join an LGBTQ+ social group

• Take a vocal stand against discrimination

• Promote non-discriminatory policies at work or school

Don't...

• Expect LGBTQ+ friends and family to educate you about their identities

• Out LGBTQ+ friends or family to anyone

• Ask unsolicited questions about a person's sex, gender expression, or sexuality

• Use anti-LGBTQ+ language as jokes or insults

• Ignore bias, discrimination, or prejudice against LGBTQ+ people

Giulia attends a high school that's known to be unfriendly towards LGBTQ+ people. Many of her LGBTQ+ friends are regularly bullied by other students. She really doesn't like to see this happen and wants to do something about it.

How can Giulia support LGBTQ youth in her high school?

A. Ask her LGBTQ+ friends if she can start a school support group for LGBTQ+ students

B. Tell her school's principal exactly which of her LGBTQ+ friends are being harassed

C. Offer to help her friends report the bullying

D. Remain silent and wait for her teachers to deal with the bullying

Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash

Fight to keep the advances made in LGBTQ+ rights and strive to go even further!