The U.S based marginalized group
The Marginalisation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)
History of the group
The concept of sexual orientation identity emerged in the mid-twentieth century. In 1924, Henry Gerber established a small organization known as the ‘Society for Human rights’ that focused on ‘Friendship and Freedom’ (Finkelman, 2013). However, the society was shut down in 1950. In the same year, the gay men established a Mattachine Society to seek cultural and political liberation, as well as homosexual rights. The gay men came up with a statement of purpose which challenged the anti-gay discrimination and demanded to build a gay community (Finkelman, 2013). In 1955, the first lesbian organization was formed. Between 1950s-1960s, both gays and lesbians maintained a low profile or in other words, their activities such as public protests did not attract much interest. In 1960, the New York did not recognize homosexuality and it used the sodomy laws and state laws to prohibit the licensed premises from selling alcohol to gays and lesbians. The law also prohibited nongender-appropriate clothing. However, there were unlicensed businesses such as the Stonewall Inn and other gay bars and clubs. In 1969, the police attacked the Stonewall Inn and the homosexuals showed an unprecedented violent reaction to the police (Finkelman, 2013). Gay and lesbian protests showed violent confrontations and claimed for their rights. They presented the ‘gay pride' and argued that they are not ashamed and the society should recognize them. The expression of ‘gay pride' led to the creation of other radical groups that strengthened the gay and lesbian movement including campaigns and annual parades.
The roots of oppression
LGBT group did not experience oppression nor was the group treated as a distinct sector until the development of modern capitalism (Wolf & hoopla, 2017). First, it is important to understand that capitalism with LGBT is a system that supports autonomous sexual lives but at the same time, it imposes heterosexual norms to control the economy and society. For example, in the nuclear family, the capitalist system does not include women in the workplace. In other words, capitalism states that women should be responsible for childcare and other house chores (Wolf & hoopla, 2017). Also, racism and sexism characterize the capitalist system in that working-class people are allowed to work in the industries and they do not struggle for the economy and social justice. On the other hand, socialist does impose legal or material restrictions as capitalism does but it focuses on providing individual’s freedom (Wolf & hoopla, 2017). According to socialist, sexuality is a fluid phenomenon. In addition, there is only one human race with different sexual possibilities and the difference can be recognized or frustrated concerning the structure and organization of the society. For example, the Industrial Revolution did not recognize the LGBT group. In the mid-nineteenth century, the Industrial Revolution focused on sexuality and gender roles. Homosexuality was seen as insane, moral degeneracy, latent condition, and it was associated with heredity weaknesses. Note that in pre-industrial society, there was no distinction in the value of tasks between men and men. All tasks such as agricultural work and childcare were considered productive. Also, the historical evidence states that during the pre-capitalism era, the pre-capitalists cultures fully incorporated homosexual behaviors (Wolf & hoopla, 2017). For example, ancient Greece appreciated the relationship between wealthier older men and poorer teenage boys. In addition, the American Indian tribes appreciated the berdaches (men and women who played roles of the opposite sex). Another example is that the Roman Catholic Church tolerated the homosexual actions and love between men. Even Michel Foucalt (The French philosopher) confronted the modern society for having a negative sexual outlook towards the LGBT and in specific the Greeks. He said that Greek did not see the same-sex behavior or opposite-sex behavior as two different choices but rather they conceived this dual practice as a natural act that was implanted to the individual's heart (Wolf & hoopla, 2017). However, the class societies, the fields of medicine, academic, and other fields have imposed measures to control human sexuality. Today, the economic growth and development, the higher levels of education, among other developments have reduced social interactions and view homosexual relations as a crime. Homosexual individuals are denied opportunities and they are alienated from the activity of production in the capitalist society.
Therefore, systematic oppression is a recent phenomenon, especially in Western societies (Wolf & hoopla, 2017). Even though before the capitalism LGBT people experienced oppression, there was legal prohibition in many cultures during the pre-capitalist era. In other words, there was no condemnation of sexual identity and homosexuality was not seen as a set of acts but it was seen as a set of qualities. This means that both heterosexuals and homosexuals were both integrated into society. Yet, modern capitalism has motivated LGBT people to identify themselves as gays and lesbians (Wolf & hoopla, 2017). In other words, capitalism has allowed gays and lesbians to have intimate lives and develop personal desire. Note that under capitalism, people focus on private ownership or private property, wage labor, profit motive, economic freedom, competition for education, housing, among other resources. Note that these feature influence people to develop individuality and sexual autonomy (Wolf & hoopla, 2017). There are no natural bonds to supports human conglomerate.
Common psychological issues experienced by LGBT
According to Russel & Fish (2016), LGBT suffers from mental health. Focusing on societal acceptance, in 1977 43% of adults in the U.S supported the relationship between gay or lesbian whereas, in 2013, the number increased to 66%. The societal acceptance of LGBT people around the world has increased in that in 2001, the Netherlands recognized same-sex marriage and other 22 countries recognize same-sex marriage. However, despite an increase in social acceptance, there is a decrease in the rate of disclose of gender identity among LGBT youth. Recent studies show that when youths are at early adolescence, they learn more about self and peer regulation of sexuality norms. They develop prejudicial attitudes, they experience social exclusion and victimization which lead to psychological consequences such as depression, suicidal ideation, substance use, anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and psychiatric comorbidity (Russell & Fish, 2016). A recent US study has reported that LGBT lesbians suffer from substance use problems than heterosexual females. In general, LGBT youth question their sexuality than heterosexuality and this affects their mental health. There is also a difference in racial/ethnic identities in that Latino males suffer from depression than white males. The studies find that the risk factors for mental health issues among LGBT youth are family conflict and stigma and discrimination (Russell & Fish, 2016). At the social level, LGBT youth lack support from families and society. The rights are not recognized and they become more vulnerable to mental health issues. For example, schools do not have anti-bullying policies and as a result, LGBT young end up suffering from physical abuse and peer victimization which makes them develop suicide attempts (Russell & Fish, 2016). On stigma and discrimination, LGBT experience biased-based victimization due to their actual identities. As a result, they suffer from depression and suicide attempts.
Sutter, Perrin, & Trujillo (2018) assert that LGBT individuals experience mental health problems more than heterosexual individuals. The mental health problems are contributed by stigma-related stressors such as harassment, prejudice, rejection, and discrimination. The authors state that the risk factor for a mental health problem is social-economic status (SES). Individuals whose SES is low suffering from stress and depression and they cannot manage the depression. Note that sexual minorities do not access social support and as a result, they have higher rates of poverty and they use poor adaptive responses (Sutter, Perrin, & Trujillo, 2018). In the workplace, Webster et al (2018) assert that LGBT conceals their identities. The place of work is full of stigma and for this reason, LGBT find it hard to disclose their identity and if they do so, they experience unfair treatment and violence. For example, the Williams Institute reported that in 2008, 30% of LGBT who disclosed their identities were harassed and 27% were discriminated. The negative experience does not only emerge due to stigma but also due to the lack of protection from the federal legislation. Only a few states have instituted laws to protect LGBT from harassment and discrimination but the majority have no laws (Webster et al, 2018). This makes almost 52% of LGBT vulnerable to mistreatment. Given that LGBT are marginalized in work, social and educational environment, they suffer from mental health problems than non-LGBT.
Common coping strategies and strengths utilized by LGBT
Kuper, Coleman, & Mustanski, (2014) state that LGBT uses multiple methods of coping with stressors. The authors state that they use racial-ethnic socialization or a process in which older LGBT convey message or information to younger LGBT about group-based values. The socialization message plays a significant in that through sharing the belief systems, children and young LGBT can cope up with racial-ethnic stressors. There are two types of racial-ethnic socialization. The first one is proactive socialization which aims at conveying the message about cultural pride. The other is protective socialization which aims at conveying the message which aims at warning LGBT youth about oppressive experiences. In other words, the protection socialization teaches the youth the need to develop an awareness of discrimination, be prepared for prejudice, and understand the existing structural barriers (Kuper, Coleman, & Mustanski, 2014). In most cases, LGBT uses the protective socialization in that it helps them understand how the society perceives them and as a result, they can cope up with racial/ ethnic stressors and avoid mental health outcomes. For example, LGBT people are aware of the sexual violence and threats and as a result, there can cope up with LGBT-related stressors. Also, LGBT individuals know that harassment is inevitable and when they are faced with a stressor, they ignore and disclose their identities.
Treatment alternatives
Kahn et al (2018) state that LGBT are exposed to prejudice and discrimination but despite their exposure to minority stress, they do not access quality mental health. If their access treatment, LGBT individuals experiences prejudice and discrimination such as higher treatment costs and lack of mental health practitioners to provide them with knowledge about trans-affirmative care (Kahn et al, 2018). The author recommends that it is important to employ affirmative approaches to hence the psychotherapy experiences and improve the mental health of LGBT. Mental health providers should recognize the mental health difficulties and institute mental health referral to help client who suffer from traumatic stress. Note that LGBT finds it hard to seek treatment due to stigma and stress. Rather than disclosing their mental health issues, they develop shame-based reactions and this result to lack of mental health care (Kahn et al, 2018). Therefore, mental health providers and counselors should help the LGBT manage stress and also ensure that they have health insurance coverage so that they can seek mental health care without restriction (Kahn et al, 2018). Also, there should be community-based support where LGBT receive psychosocial support, clinic-based treatment, and social connections.
References
Finkelman Paul. (2013). The Encyclopedia of American Civil Liberties. Routledge
Wolf, S., & hoopla digital. (2017). Sexuality and socialism: History, politics, and theory of LGBT
liberation. United States: Haymarket Books.
Russell, S. T., & Fish, J. N. (2016). Mental health in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)
youth. Annual review of clinical psychology, 12, 465-487.
Sutter, M., Perrin, P. B., & Trujillo, M. A. (2018). Understanding the association between discrimination
and depression among sexual minority people of color: Evidence for diminishing returns of
socioeconomic advantage. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 74(6), 940–952. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22558
Webster, Jennica R., Gary A. Adams, Cheryl L. Maranto, Katina Sawyer, and Christian Thoroughgood.
- “Workplace Contextual Supports for LGBT Employees: A Review, Meta‐analysis, and
Agenda for Future Research.” Human Resource Management 57 (1): 193–210.
doi:10.1002/hrm.21873.
Kuper, L. E., Coleman, B. R., & Mustanski, B. S. (2014). Coping With LGBT and Racial-Ethnic-Related
Stressors: A Mixed-Methods Study of LGBT Youth of Color. Journal of Research on
Adolescence (Wiley-Blackwell), 24(4), 703–719. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12079
Kahn, S., Alessi, E. J., Kim, H., Woolner, L., & Olivieri, C. J. (2018). Facilitating Mental Health Support
for LGBT Forced Migrants: A Qualitative Inquiry. Journal of Counseling & Development, 96(3),
316–326. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12205
