Sexual Orientation Discrimination

Elizarraraz, Michael
Carmen Garcia & Stoll, Russell
October 17, 2014

Prompt:
Examine the author's research, and explain the effects of living in a heteronormative
society, and how it impacts the mental health of the LGB population. Should government
funding to LGBT organizations to support their cause? Support your reasoning with
excerpts from the article, and personal anecdotes that are closely connected or
appropriate to the matter at hand.

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Over the past centuries, the LGBT population has experienced many trials and
tribulations. Mass genocide, social ostracization, debilitating mental disorders, struggles with
self-identity, and discrimination in the workplace has been some of the struggles, which has
plagued people with different sexual orientations. Years of social conditioning and
preconceived notions has infested the minds of multiple societies into becoming hateful/
bigoted individuals whom cause major inequalities towards the LGBT population. The immense
amount of hate and inequality spurring from the hearts in causing a divide amongst the world,
which foreshadows detrimental societies around the world. However, with more and more
people becoming enlightened with the hardships this minority has faced throughout the years,
the government must step in to protect its LGBT citizens. With homophobia and discrimination
plaguing the mental health of the LGBT community, government funding should invest in LGBT
organizations to bridge the gap of inequality.
Beliefs and social influences have the ability to shifts populations opinions on certain
matters at hand. With specific rules laid down in front of them the majority will conform to
those expectations, leaving anyone who incapable as social outcasts. This social concept is seen
practiced in China towards homosexuals in particular. During ancient China homosexual
relationships was prevalent, and not regarded as morally deviant prior to the influence of
foreign cultures.
However, in the mid-seventeenth century, as the Manchus established the Qing
Dynasty in China, they believed in using Confucian values of each member of
society knowing his/her role and preforming it accordingly. They insisted that
men and women must follow their prescribed roles as husbands and fathers,

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wives and mothers without deviation. Homosexuality was seen as violation of
this Confucian principle, and law prohibiting consensual sodemy between adults
was enacted to bolster traditional gender roles (Chan 16).
Seen in this light male homosexuality was viewed as a direct challenge to the requirements of
filial piety [virtue of respect for ones parents and ancestors]. With tensions over
homosexuality in China rising, imported western beliefs was the flame, which sparked the
powder keg of homophobia. This resulted in legislation being passed in 1740 outlawing any
form of homosexual behavior. This is turn resulted in police regularly rounding up gays and
lesbian charging them with hooliganism or disturbing public order(History). The social
constructs of a civilization on how it can change its viewpoint on an issue such as homosexuality
from not blinking an eye to imprisonment is a lesson our government should acknowledge. If
the government does not take immediate action to combat the hate, and discrimination that is
already prevalent in Americas society dire consequences will erupt. Without the necessary
education from LGBT groups, Americas future will mirror the events, which took place in
Chinas history.
LGBT individuals experience a much larger amount of discrimination in their day-to-day
lives compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Thus, sexual minorities develop
abnormalities in their mental health and identity development. A report documenting
individuals experiences with discrimination based on their sexual orientation display grimacing
results.
Overall, homosexuals and bisexuals women and men were significantly more
likely than heterosexual respondent to report the occurrence of at least 1 of the

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11 types of discriminatory experiences: not hired for a job, not given a job
promotion(s), fired from a job, discouraged by a teacher from continuing
education, denied scholarship, prevented from renting or buying a home, denied
bank loan, forced out from neighborhood by neighbors, denied or given inferior
medical care, denied or given inferior serviced, hassled by police (Krieger and
Sidney 157-176).
From their weighted means, homosexual men and women are twice as likely to be
discriminated by the variables provided above. The Issue with the constant discrimination is
the mental strain it produces on the individuals, which will lead to extreme mental diseases
causing citizens to become less motivated to pursue a better future.
In a study conducted by three editorials their data concluded that homosexual people are at a
substantially higher risk for some forms of emotional problems, including suicidality, major
depression, and anxiety disorders Lee and Frank). Since the LGBT population has such a higher
risk of discrimination; rejectment and maltreatment correlates to an increased number of
mentally ill people in the LGBT community. All of the editors unanimously agreed,
Homophobia and adverse social conditions are a primary risk for mental health peoples of LGB
people (Badgett and Frank). The way in which society portrays a certain minority can cause
dire consequences within that group. As seen here with people within the LGBT group are twice
as likely to face a higher amount of discrimination in their life compared to their heterosexual
counter parts. Furthermore, the social ostracization forced upon them causes a wide variety of
debilitating mental disorders, which interfere with everyday tasks resulting in severe
depression and suicidal tendencies.

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Highlighted before a certain type of discrimination in which homosexual men and
woman face are issues regarding pay in the workplace. There is a pay gap between gay men
and heterosexual males, by showing how the gap grows, as the job becomes higher paying.
Thus the pay gap being discrimination to their sexuality and affecting their class status.
Homophobic views and preexisting notions fueled the fire of inequality leaving homosexual
men at a disadvantage. The pay gap is expressed in at 1995 report revealing as much as a
26.7% income occupational difference results in gay/bisexual men are in higher paying
occupations but earn less than heterosexual men within these broad categories(Lee). This in
turn reveals that even as a gay man advances thought his career though promotions he would
still be at a disadvantage receiving 26.7% less pay in contrast to his heterosexual colleague.
Furthermore, a LGBT person who expresses stereotypes portrayed in mass media would receive
substantially less than a straight individual. Preexisting hate and negative opinions towards gays
give a disadvantage in the work place, accompanied with mannerisms that are seen as
feminine or unsuited for their gender results in an economic drawback. In the study
Industrial and Labor Relations by M.V. Lee Badgeet. He made a statement in which
Behaviorally [out of the closet] gay / bisexual men earn from 11% to 27% less
than heterosexual men. Because this economic disadvantage holds after
controlling for education and occupation, it appears that equally productive gay
people are being treated differently that is, they are being discriminated against.
(Badgett)
This passage further proves the inequality and there must be a call to action for the
government to step in and realize the basic rights of its citizens are being violated.

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From all of the trials and tribulations in which the LGBT population faces. They continue
to be burdened into their elderly year. The elderly LGBT who continue their lives living in
nursing homes often live in fear and hide who they truly are in order to stay safe. The lack of
awareness for older gays and lesbians when dependent under the system with history of
homophobic tendencies can result in unfortunate outcomes. For a lesbian couple living
together for several decades, were separated with the help of health care professionals and
family members (Brotman & Cormier). Without the proper care and attention, this lesbian
couple were forced to separate from each their significate other now that they were dependent
under the healthcare system. Secondly, Elderly individuals must keep their sexual orientation
invisible as a strategy for survival.
A strategy that has often resulted in an increased capacity for resilience against
the onslaught of additional forms of discrimination they experience as elders.
Historical experiences of victimization have led many older lesbians and gay men
to develop skills that keep them safe from or help them deal with all kinds of
hostile environments. (Brotman & Cormier)
The only resort these individuals have to defend themselves against discriminations is to go
hide into the closet out of fear that their caretaker could abuse them. This tactic of hiding back
into the closet could also lead them to be reminded of times in which they experienced
discrimination, which could trigger episodes of paranoia, anxiety, and depression.
Now with an overview of the LGBTs development over the centuries and the realization
of the horrid occurrences that have plagued them thought history the government must take
action. Legislation must be written to give the LGBT community more expansive rights to

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defend themselves at all stages of life, and to undo the social conditioning that many people
have been indoctrinated by.
Along with the social economic disadvantages in which the LGB population faces, race
also plays a huge factor in how people with different sexual orientations are discriminated
against. Race plays a huge role in the development of identity as different cultures have
different views on homosexuality, and they can greatly conflict with western/ ancestors views.
People of color may deny their sexuality, ranging from self-hate for ones self, to not wanting to
partake in a cultural phenomenon what is considered only a white concept. LGBT individuals
with deep roots in their cultural and racial backgrounds in particular do not choose to identify
with gay culture for internalized homophobia or the perception that gay identity is conflated
with being white (Yoshikawa 68). Thus, living in a homophobic environment throughout their
lives, affects their identity development throughout life making the stress process extremely
hard to overcome if you are a double minority. Black and Latino LGB have an often experienced
a great deal of homophobia in their own racial group, making it harder to come out to their
peers without the fear of being outlasted, or discriminated against. Trying to manage diverse
identities Black and Latino LGB individuals have shown that they often confront homophobia
in their racial/ethnic communities and alienation from their racial/ethnic identity in the LGB
community (Badgett Sexual orientation). Their own racial group that they belong to
discriminates against the LGB community, creating a greater interior struggle on how to come
to terms with ones self and the discrimination that they face. Furthermore, Asian-Americans
are torn between their American side, and their Chinese side due to past beliefs. Tasks related
to gay indent development shows respondents were more likely to come out to non-Asian

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than to other Asians to maintain privacymany had not disclosed their sexual identity to their
parents, even though they had been out an average of six years (Chan 25). Hence,
traditionalist views of homosexuals can shape how an individual views themselves, causing
them to disguise sexual identity. Them choosing to withhold information from their parents
because they believe that in doing so they will bring dishonor to their family for not fulfilling a
specific role that was laid down by preconceived notions. In conclusion, the racial constructs,
and societal norms designed creates a system of fear. Social ostracization is the driving force
that keeps the sexual identitys of many closely tied with their racial groups hidden in order to
evade hostility from their community. However, with the government offering assistance to
LGBT organizations, different racial cultures can advance their views away from closed-minded
thinking into tolerant acceptance.
Indeed, the belief systems of society have greatly influenced the minds of its citizens,
including religious. Extremist religious upbringing and teaching can lead to dire consequences in
a LGBTs life such as mental illness and suicide. Because people can be indoctrinated into certain
ideologies, it would cause more harm than good to the LGBT population. Likewise, organized
fundamentalist religions such as the ones in Jamaica spread negative homosexual teachings
including insults against gays and lesbians connected to the Sodom and Gomorrah stories of
the bible (Badgett Sexual orientation). As an illustration on the atrocities, they have had a
church counselor breached the confidentiality of one of the lesbians, resulting in her suicide
(Badgett Sexual orientation). As a result, the hate filled lectures and breaking of trust many
people left the church, feeling unsafe that their identities would become outed as well. Without

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doubt, the mass catastrophe, which the churches in Jamaica spread, leads to issues in mental
health and a distrust for the LGBT population in Jamaica has on religion.
Even more disturbing are the societal obstacles established by the discriminatory
teachings of extremist Muslims. This form of extremisms can lead to dire consequences in a
believers mind resulting in mental illness and suicide.
Psychological dissonance and social complications generated by the
discriminatory teachings, policies and practices of religious authority structures
have profound impacts on LGB believers. In extreme cases participants discard
their religious faith altogether as a dissonance resolution strategy. The project
on LGB Muslims came across a young man, who is coming out to his family and
kin led to persecution and his eventual distancing from his community.
Overcome by an immense sense of grief and loss, he attempted suicide twice
and eventually resorted to adopting a western name as an act of defiance to
denounce his religious and ethnic heritage.
As a result, to the social discrimination the young Muslim man faced, his mental stability
collapsed, causing him to go through drastic measures to remove himself from his environment,
His community, and religion negatively pushed him to the edge of death, consequently leading
to acts of defiance by denouncing his religious and ethnic heritage. In short, religious upbringing
that chastise believers within the LGBT population, lead to feelings of unworthiness and selfhatred to brew internally consequently causing believers to denounce their faiths, and take
their lives. Unless government assists LGBT organizations across the world, more extreme
consequences will arise.

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Lastly, without the ability to communicate the ideas with LGBT youth and people,
struggling with their personal identity will be subject to discrimination in almost every aspect of
life. From the time of conception to death LGBT, population faces challenges, which are unique
to their specific minority. However, as people are becoming enlighten to the inequality in which
LGBT individuals face; so should the government. With support from the government persons
struggling with their sexuality over the world will benefit from LGBT organizations. Problems
regarding race, class or gender will listened to fairly by these organizations, which will spark
lawmakers to create legislation to bridge the inequality amongst the LGBT community. With
homophobia and discrimination plaguing the mental health of the LGBT community,
government funding should invest in LGBT organizations to bridge the gap of inequality.
Despite the centuries of discrimination the LGBT population has experienced, the future look
bright. Because without doubt after a storm, there is always a rainbow.

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Work Cited
Brotman, S., B. Ryan, and R. Cormier. "The Health and Social Service Needs of Gay and Lesbian
Elders and Their Families in Canada." The Gerontologist 43.2 (2003): 192-202. Web.
M. V. Lee Badgett Industrial and Labor Relations Review Vol. 48, No. 4 (Jul., 1995), pp. 726-739
Print.
---. and Jeff Frank. Sexual Orientation Discrimination: An International Perspective. London:
Routledge, 2007. Print.
Chan, Connie S. Issues of Identity Development Among Asian-American Lesbians and Gay Men
Journal of Counseling & Development;Sep/Oct89, Vol. 68 Issue 1, p16 Academic Journal
Patrick A. Wilson, Hirokazu Yoshikawa (2004). Experiences of and Responses to Social
Discrimination among Asian and Pacific Islander Gay Men: Their Relationship to HIV Risk
AIDS Educ Prev. 2004 Feb;16(1):68-83.
Krieger N, Sidney S. 1997. Prevalence and health implications of anti-gay discrimination: A study
of black and white women and men in the CARDIA Cohort. International Journal of
Health Services 27(1):157-176.
Meyer, Ilan H. "Abstract." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library
of Medicine, 22 Feb. 0006. Web. 28 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2072932/>.
Badgett, M. V. Lee. JSTOR. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2524353?uid=3739560&uid=2&uid=4&uid=37
39256&sid=21105053602433>.

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