Hidden Discrimination Against LGBT Individuals
How is hidden discrimination against LGBT individuals created, sustained, and maintained? What are some reform measures that could be implemented to overcome it?
Discrimination is prejudice or discriminatory treatment directed towards people based on their social identity or group membership. While many countries have legislation prohibiting explicit forms of discrimination based on race, gender, religion, disability, age, and so forth, there is currently no international consensus on how to legally define and prevent discrimination against LGBT individuals. In some parts of the world, this demographic has been subject to harsh criminalization or even death penalty for decades, but they are also vulnerable to covert biases and microaggressions. Structural, institutional, and interpersonal mechanisms contribute to the maintenance of these attitudes and behaviors.
Structural mechanisms include legal provisions that criminalize homosexuality and discourage same-sex relationships. Laws against sodomy, for instance, still exist in more than half of the world's countries despite increasing awareness of human rights issues. Many jurisdictions do not recognize civil unions or marriages between same-sex couples, let alone grant them equal status with heterosexual partnerships in terms of adoption or inheritance rights. The absence of anti-discrimination policies at workplaces, public spaces, and educational institutions further entrenches inequality.
Institutional mechanisms may be subtler, such as media representations that portray queer people as stereotyped caricatures or sexual objects. Advertising agencies often rely on gender roles, leading to the exclusion of non-heteronormative identities from mainstream culture. Companies that target male audiences generally do not market their products to gay men, while women's magazines rarely feature stories about lesbians. Political parties have been reluctant to address LGBT issues because they believe it will alienate voters who oppose gay rights.
Interpersonal mechanisms can perpetuate hidden prejudices through microagressions, like misgendering or assuming someone is straight until proven otherwise. Queer individuals are often marginalized and disrespected in social contexts, even by progressive activists who claim to support equality. Microaggressions can lead to internalized stigma, reinforcing negative attitudes towards oneself and one's community. Interpersonal discrimination also includes denial of access to healthcare, housing, employment, and other basic services.
Reform measures include legal changes that protect LGBT rights and promote diversity. Laws should recognize same-sex marriage, ban conversion therapy, criminalize homophobic hate crimes, and prohibit adverse treatment based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Employers should have policies against workplace harassment and provide comprehensive benefits for all employees. School curricula must incorporate information on LGBT history and culture. Media companies should hire diverse talent and represent queer people as multidimensional characters with complex lives.
Structural, institutional, and interpersonal mechanisms sustain hidden discrimination against LGBT individuals worldwide. Reform efforts could change attitudes and behaviors through legislation, media representation, and increased visibility of non-heteronormative identities.