Dickens 1

Brandon Dickens
Brandi Bradley
ENC 2135
20 October, 2015
LGBT Community
In 2015, gender discrimination is still a common occurrence and in many cases socially
accepted and even promoted. People are often denied of certain privileges or job opportunities
simply due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. These people are being stripped of their
human rights and denied of freedoms promised by the Constitution. This is an issue that spreads
across the globe and is not limited to third-world and underdeveloped nations.
The LGBT community is an embodiment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
people along with allies who join together in support of the expansion of human rights. The
alliance between queer people originated in the 1970s and as the community evolved, the group
became politically focused and adopted the term LGBT (Cruells 124). The community has
grown tremendously over the past few years as allies have joined in support and policies have
been established to advance the rights of the community. Many straight allies have joined the
community to support and comfort the members as well as expand their voice for equal rights.
Although the community has seen vast improvements over the past 5 years such as the end of the
military policy of Dont Ask, Dont Tell, notable progress by the United Nations (Austin), and
the legalization of same-sex marriage, the United States and most other nations have long path of
reform until fair equality is established.
Discrimination against LGBT members can occur in several different settings with
varying effects. Discrimination of gender identity and sexual orientation can be seen through

Dickens 2

inequality in the workplace, targeted bullying, and the denial of equal rights by healthcare
practitioners or police officers. Every form of discrimination needs to be addressed and the
public should be educated to prevent these instances from occurring. As the community fights for
adequate legal protection, some people outside of the community have opposing views
primarily influenced by moral or religious beliefs. These issues have been portrayed through the
media, news, and activism of the LGBT community to increase awareness of these issues and
potentially gain support from others outside of the community.
Many states have inadequate protection for LGBT employees and some do not have any
protection at all (Thompson 286). In some areas, employers can underpay or terminate
employees strictly due to their gender identity or sexual orientation. Research shows that with all
other factors constant, (including education, work experience, and region) gay or bisexual men
make 11-27% less than heterosexuals with the same job (Martinez 456). Due to this lack of
protection for LGBT employees, it is impossible to obtain an accurate statistic of the LGBT
community in the labor force as many fear they will lose their job if they reveal this information.
Under the religious freedom laws granted by the first amendment, controversy has risen between
maintaining equal rights and religious freedom. Both of these rights are fundamentally important
and though one cannot simply say that one right trumps the other, it would be illogical to
promote discrimination because a religious person did not agree with, or feel comfortable doing
something. In a recent case in Canada, an owner of a printer refused to print material promoting
the LGBT community. Although discrimination was clear, the court sided with religion and
justified the mans refusal to print this material due to his religious perspective (Mendelsohn
626). The decision of this case prompted for further discrimination against LGBT members and
promoted religious freedom above human rights for the LGBT community. As religious

Dickens 3

toleration is maintained throughout a majority of the LGBT community, toleration for lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and transgender people must also be maintained and their rights cannot be denied.
As children are growing up and exploring their identities, they not only face internal
conflict, but also targeted bullying. Homophobic and transphobic bullying has become more
common over the past few years and has a strong impact on LGBT members. In 2012, over half
of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth in the United Kingdom had been a victim of homophobic
bullying by verbal, physical, or digital means (Marston 162). Prejudice-based bullying can have
a severe effect on students and often go unreported. After being bullied, victims can experience
suicidal ideas, depression, self-harm, and lower performance in school (162). Students are often
scared to vocalize the harassment they have received because they can begin to believe they
deserve it for being different or do not want others to know.
At the root of homophobic bullying lies gender expectations about masculine and
feminine behavior; [t]he pressure to conform to gender expectations can be a great source of
anxiety amongst young people (164). These gender expectations limit the freedoms of young
people as they feel restricted due to their gender. In a recent study, many girls claimed to have
enjoyed playing football when they were younger, but hesitated to continue playing as they got
older. Girls worried that they would not be accepted by boys and have a hard time getting
married or having boyfriends (Pielichaty 496). Societal expectations limit the ability for young
girls to freely find their identity and can cause girls simply pursuing their interests to become
outcasts. However, women are not the only ones effected by gender expectations. There is a
common misconception that men are a gender exempt from burdening expectations, stereotypes,
and societal pressures (Olson), which lead to a reduced focus on the faults in the societal
stereotypes of men. These stereotypes are highlighted when boys who are gifted and love music,

Dickens 4

art, and theater are mocked and considered to be gay or called other inappropriate names.
Thomas Policastro recalls his childhood as he states I was hit with a couple of mocking jabs
along the lines of real men don't do drama in grades 7 and 8 (Olson). Many men feel hesitant
to express themselves in fear of being seen as less of a man or being bullied. In return, they store
up their emotions and become increasingly emotionally unstable which can lead to sever
consequences. These gender expectations should be a focus on schools, as well as households, in
order to provide children the comfort they need to express themselves. Teaching boys empathy
and emotional awareness will help them navigate through social traumas as children and
teenagers, which will equip them for the pressures theyre bound to face in adulthood (Olson).
Gender expectations should be removed by increased education on gender identity for the youth
and equal opportunity in sports and other fields.
Members of the LGBT community often face discrimination in healthcare services and
are treated differently and sometimes like a child. In a recent case, 35-year-old George Dennis
went to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, prior to the procedure, while fully competent,
Dennis demanded full disclosure and designated his male partner to be the only person the
physician could discuss the results with. In the end, the physician disregarded Dennis demand
and without the consent of his partner, the physician told Dennis family the test results (Wahlert
58-59). The physician was only permitted to provide information to Dennis partner and when he
broke this confidentiality he also undermined the rights and privacy of Dennis. Although this
may seem small, it is a direct violation of LGBT rights and causes distrust between LGBT
members and government employees. This case is not an isolated outlier as cases like this can
occur frequently in the LGBT community. Often times the physician defends themselves by
claiming a health risk to a third party such as, if the mans partner was unaware of an STD.

Dickens 5

However, in this case there was no additional asset at risk as his partner was informed. This case
shows a clear bias against homosexuality within government regulated jobs and fractures the
trust between the LGBT community and the government.
LGBT members also commonly face discrimination by police officers, are treated
negatively, and approached more often if they appear to be queer (Dwyer 494). The relationship
between LGBT youth and police have proven to be detrimental and can be described as
adversarial, harassing, discriminatory, characteri[z]ed by mutual mistrust, and focused
unnecessarily on the surveillance and criminalization of young peoples leisure activities (494).
LGBT youth often receive increased police attention as Mac, a 19-year old gay male, claims
because Im a queer and I was dressed like a queer I got treated like one (501). In numerous
cases, young LGBT members face discrimination from police officers which can have a negative
impact in some cases as serious as engagement in criminal activities and being homeless (495).
These interactions cause a growing mistrust between LGBT youth and police officers and lead to
serious consequences later on. If the youth cannot trust the people responsible for protecting their
rights, then they will be unwilling to report violations in fear of being further harassed. This can
reduce the effectiveness of future LGBT policies and contribute to further discrimination and
harassment without consequence to the offender. Police should learn how to properly interact
with LGBT people and treat them with fairness and in an equal way they would with
heterosexuals. Without the respect between the LGBT community and the police, the growth of
human rights will be hindered and all future efforts will be less effective.
Members of this community feel very strongly about these issues and frequently come
together to stand up for each other and against the discrimination they face. The LGBT
community does not wish to punish those who mistreat them, but hope to prevent future

Dickens 6

incidences and have their rights recognized. They communicate these issues through a variety of
mediums in an attempt to create a stronger voice and have a significant influence on their
audience. Allies will often attend pride parades and marches to show their support and draw the
attention of others. Along with face-to-face interactions, the community will also communicate
through social media. Members and supporters will sometimes change their profile pictures and
post about issues the community faces or show their support for each other and policies which
promote LGBT equality. Using multiple means of communication, the community hopes to reach
the most people and educate them on the issues that they face. However, along with large
exposure, they are also at a large risk to be further discriminated against and harassed by antiLGBT people. This can be especially true on social media where people can hide behind their
digital persona and harass others without receiving direct consequences to themselves. Most of
this backlash is caused by conflicting religious beliefs or a lack of education which causes
homophobia and bias.
As the discrimination of LGBT members has increased in awareness and exposure, it has
also gained a political spotlight and many new policies have been created which focus on
decreasing the discrimination. The first major steps towards equality occurred in 2011 when the
United Nations created policies to end violence against LGBT and to remove laws that
criminalize homosexuality (Austin). Legislators have also been working hard to pass the
Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which would protect individuals against
employment discrimination based on sexual orientation (Martinez 455). However, this bill was
not the complete solution as it still left many opportunities for discrimination based on religious
motives (Thompson 288). Private employers could also refuse to provide an adequate reason of
why they fired or refused to hire a LGBT member and could leave them unable to find a job and

Dickens 7

unable to pay their bills. Although there has been many shortcomings in the advancements of
LGBT rights, there has also been noticeable improvements such as the legalization of same-sex
marriage. In 2013, same-sex marriage was only available in ten countries, and only seven states
in the United States (Austin); in 2015, there are now 20 countries that offer same-sex marriage
and it is now legalized in all 50 states(The Freedom to Marry Internationally).
Although outside discrimination (such as occupational or targeted bullying) is one of the
most well-known issues the LGBT community faces, there are also underlying issues within the
community that also need to be addressed. According to Skye Kim, a bisexual member of the
community, bisexual and pansexual erasure is a significant issue that she has faced within the
community as well as outside of it. She describes this as when people who identify as [bisexual
or pansexual] are seen as less valid or less important in the LGBT community because they are
also attracted to the opposite sex, and are seen as having a more convenient sexuality. She
states that she has naturally felt doubt and confusion about this topic and the negative consensus
associated with this lifestyle made it even harder for her to find her identity and be comfortable
with herself. This issue exists both outside and inside the community as bisexuals and pansexuals
are a smaller portion of the LGBT community and have less of a voice. In accordance with most
issues regarding the community, Kim suggested that the root of this issue is a lack of education,
specifically on sexuality and preferences.
Although there has been many positive steps towards equality for the LGBT community,
there have also been many issues that have been overlooked due to a variety of reasons. For
pansexuals and bisexuals, their inequality has been overlooked because of broader inequality
issues that demand more attention. It is difficult to address smaller issues, such as bisexual and
pansexual erasure, before addressing the major issues that involve the whole community. As

Dickens 8

advancements are made towards equality, minor issues within the LGBT community will be
much easier to address.
In order to achieve equality in the LGBT community and ensure protection of these
members rights, education and public policies should adapt and become more LGBT friendly.
Although there has been a significant increase in the amount of political attention and policies
created to help the community, there are still blatant loop holes in these documents that continue
to limit the rights of the LGBT community. To obtain true equality, strict policies must be
enforced to prohibit any discrimination or bias against lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender
people. Paired with this intended political success, social success should also be achieved
through improved education on sexuality and gender expectations. Due to the current state of
gender expectations, children have a more difficult time establishing their identity and
discovering who they are. These expectations limit them and their desires to do something
because they are afraid of what others will think or how they might react.
Many of the accomplishments made so far would not have been possible without the
support from straight allies. Straight allies can expand and take the voice of the LGBT
community much further than what would have been accessible without this benefit. One does
not have to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender to have a significant impact towards equality
for this community as straight allies are essential for growth and further advancement. Skye Kim
suggests that the best way for a straight ally to have a positive impact on this community is to
seek opportunities to not only learn more but act more. One can make an impact through
supporting and loving those around them in the LGBT community and treating them as humans
with the respect they deserve. Support and love are always welcomed with open arms (Kim).

Dickens 9

Over the past couple of years Americas most iconic brands have begun publically
showing their support for equal rights for the LGBT community (Joughin). The support of these
companies significantly aid the LGBT community and raise awareness throughout the country. It
is also beneficially to the company as a majority of the population supports equality and are
pleased with the companys public display of support. These countries show support primarily
through social media and features implemented into their production such as Levis pride month
clothing (Joughin). The support provided by these companies has proved to be beneficial for the
community and effectively raised awareness of the inequality faced throughout the LGBT
community. Although it is not uncommon for these businesses to receive hate and lose potential
profit, the general response to their support is positive and highly appreciated.
As social media has skyrocketed in popularity, it has also became a very effective way to
promote awareness and equality for the LGBT community. A few words on Twitter or Facebook
may seem insubstantial, but in accordance with others it can gain attention and spread awareness
which could potentially have a significant impact on future decisions and policies made by the
government to promote equality.

Dickens 10

Works Cited
Austin, David W. "Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity." International Lawyer 46.1 (2012):
447-62. Web. 6 Oct. 2015
Cruells, Marta, and Gerard Coll-Planas. "Challenging Equality Policies: The Emerging LGBT
Perspective." European Journal of Women's Studies 20.2 (2013): 122-37. Web. 4 Oct. 2015.
Dwyer, Angela. "Teaching Young Queers a Lesson: How Police Teach Lessons about NonHeteronormativity in Public Spaces." Sexuality & Culture 19.3 (2015): 493-512. Web. 8 Oct.
2015
"International | Freedom to Marry." International | Freedom to Marry. N.p., 26 June 2015. Web.
20 Oct. 2015.
Joughin, Charlie. "American Corporations Celebrate Pride Month with LGBT Advertising,
Promotions." Human Rights Campaign. N.p., 13 June 2014. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.
Kim, Skye. Interview by Brandon Dickens. Online interview. 8 Oct. 2015.
Marston, Kate. "Beyond Bullying: The Limitations of Homophobic and Transphobic Bullying
Interventions for Affirming Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) Equality in
Education." Pastoral Care in Education 33.3 (2015): 161-8. Web. 4 Oct. 2015
Martinez, Larry R., et al. "The Role of Organizational Leaders in Sexual Orientation Equality at
Organizational and Federal Levels." Journal of Business & Psychology 28.4 (2013): 455-66.
Web. 7 Oct. 2015
Mendelsohn Aviv, Noa. "(When) Can Religious Freedom Justify Discrimination on the Basis of
Sexual Orientation?-a Canadian Perspective." Journal of Law & Policy 22.2 (2014): 613-72.
Web. 6 Oct. 2015
Olson, Samantha. "Male Gender Stereotypes Are Ruining Boys' Futures." Medical Daily. N.p.,
22 Mar. 2015. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.
Pielichaty, Hanya. "Its Like Equality Now; its Not as if its the Old Days: An Investigation
into Gender Identity Development and Football Participation of Adolescent Girls." Soccer
& Society 16.4 (2015): 493-507. Web. 7 Oct. 2015
Thompson, Erik S. "Compromising Equality: An Analysis of the Religious Exemption in the
Employment Non- Discrimination Act and its Impact on Lgbt Workers." Boston College
Journal of Law & Social Justice 35.2 (May 2015): 285-318. Web. 4 Oct. 2015

Dickens 11

Wahlert, Lance, and Autumn Fiester. "Repaving the Road of Good Intentions: LGBT Health Care
and the Queer Bioethical Lens." Hastings Center Report 44 (2014): S56-65. Web. 8 Oct.
2015