The persecution of queer people has existed for centuries and is still prevalent in many parts of the world today. Legal, political, and social mechanisms such as laws against sodomy, criminalization, stigma, violence, discrimination, oppression, marginalization, homophobia, transphobia, biphobia, and heteronormativity are all examples of repression that impact LGBTQ communities around the globe. These forms of repression can be categorized into four main groups: physical abuse, legal restrictions, cultural norms, and psychological manipulation.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse includes beatings, torture, rape, murder, harassment, discrimination, and assault. This type of repression has often been perpetrated by governments and law enforcement officers but also by individuals within society who hold traditional beliefs about gender roles and sexuality. In some countries where same-sex relations are illegal or punishable by death, police will sometimes raid gay clubs or bars to arrest and detain those found there.
Vigilante mobs have attacked and killed LGBTQ individuals simply because they were perceived to be different.
In 2017 in Chechnya, Russia, authorities conducted a "purge" of gay men resulting in over 100 disappearances and more than 30 confirmed murders.
Legal Restrictions
Laws that prohibit same-sex relationships exist in most countries around the world, with varying degrees of severity. Some countries have completely decriminalized homosexuality while others still enforce life imprisonment or even death sentences for those convicted under sodomy laws.
Many states do not recognize same-sex marriage or civil unions. Legal restrictions on LGBTQ people have created an environment of fear and intimidation, making it difficult for them to live openly without fear of persecution.
Cultural Norms
Social norms such as heteronormativity and cissexism create societal pressure to conform to gender roles and expectations regarding sex and sexuality. These norms can lead to isolation, discrimination, and even violence against non-conforming individuals. In some cases, these cultural norms manifest themselves through legal systems that criminalize transgender individuals who do not adhere to their assigned gender at birth.
In Tanzania, the government has passed a law requiring all citizens to register according to their assigned gender at birth despite evidence showing that up to 4% of individuals are born intersex or identify outside traditional gender categories.
Psychological Manipulation
This type of repression is less obvious but no less damaging. It includes propaganda campaigns that dehumanize queer people, denying them basic rights such as healthcare, education, employment, housing, and public services. Psychological manipulation also occurs when religious leaders spread false information about sexual orientation and identity, creating feelings of shame, guilt, and self-loathing among queer individuals. Religious groups often use this tactic to justify violence against LGBTQ communities, resulting in devastating consequences.
Strategies of Resistance, Survival, and Advocacy
Historically, queer people have developed strategies to resist, survive, and advocate for themselves and their communities. One common strategy is hiding one's sexual orientation or gender identity from others. This strategy may include living closeted lives or seeking out safe spaces where they feel accepted without judgment. Another strategy is activism, which seeks to challenge social norms, laws, and policies that discriminate against LGBTQ people. Activists work to create awareness about LGBTQ issues and push for change through marches, protests, petitions, and media campaigns. Some advocates focus on lobbying governments while others engage in direct action such as blocking traffic or storming government buildings.
How do legal, political, and social mechanisms of repression impact LGBTQ communities, and what strategies of resistance, survival, and advocacy have emerged historically?
The persecution of LGBTQ individuals by legal, political, and social means has been persistent throughout history. The criminalization of same-sex relationships is one of the most prominent examples that continues to exist today, even in modern democratic states such as India. Legal measures against LGBTQ individuals include imprisonment, fines, forced therapy, exclusion from public life, and discrimination in employment and housing.