What is LGBTQ? Discrimination against the LGBT community

Walking around social networking sites, on television, and on the street, surely each of us has at least once seen the green flag. It is a symbolic flag for the LGBT community – a community that is growing stronger on all continents. 

What is LGBT?

LGBT stands for nouns that characterize a person’s sexual orientation, which is a combination of the words: “Lesbian”, “Gay”, and “Bisexual”, “Transgender”.

Meaning of the LGBTQ flag

The green flag is a symbol of the LGBT community

The diversity in the colors of the LGBT symbol flags characterizes the diversity of this community. At the same time, each color has its own meaning, expressing the desire of LGBT people around the world.

More specifically, the meaning of the 6 colors of the LGBT flag, the first red color represents courage. Orange represents awareness and capacity. Yellow means challenge. Green represents encouragement and striving. Blue is the color of hope, sharing, helping, and struggling. Finally, purple represents unity, harmony, and solidarity. All 6 colors above combine to form a unified whole – instead of the LGBT community’s words to express their dreams and aspirations.

• Gay 

Gay is a concept expressing sexual orientation or love between men and men. Men feel physically and mentally attracted to people of the same sex.

• Lesbian 

Similar to the Gays, Lesbian is a term for women who are romantically and sexually attracted to people of the same sex. There aren’t any external biological features that distinguish Lesbians from others.

• Bisexual 

Bisexual is the term for people who are romantically and sexually attracted to both men and women. Bisexuals are often not clear on which gender they tend to prefer. They can change continuously throughout life, depending on their emotions and heart.

• Transgender 

Transgender is a general term that refers to people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from those associated with the gender they were assigned at birth. To make it easier to understand, we can consider Transgender as a woman born in a male body and vice versa. Transgender people will be prescribed hormones by doctors to help them fit into their desired gender identity.

Others will undergo surgery in combination with hormonal changes. However, transgender identity does not change despite the change in appearance, unless they intentionally do it for the sake of their new life.

What is gender identity?

Gender identity is defined as an individual’s personal view of themselves as male or female (sometimes both or not). This concept is closely related to gender role, which is the expression of personality in accordance with gender identity.

In most cases, a person’s gender identity is self-determined. It is the result of a combination of inherent internal and external factors.

For example, a man who considers himself male and is most comfortable referring to his personal gender in terms of masculinity, gender identity is male. Thereby, the person will show the behavior and/or dress in accordance with his or her gender identity.

What is LGBTQ+?

LGBTQ+ is an extended community of LGBT. In addition to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender mentioned above, this new community also added the Q group and the “Plus” group.

Q stands for Queer or Questioning – a term for people who have not yet determined their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

The plus sign “+” is used to denote all sexual orientations and gender identities that are not the same as any of the ones mentioned above. One example is Two-spirit, a form of Native American identity.

Two-spirit is a special feature in the civilization of the Native American Indians. In that society, a person’s value is judged by what they contribute to the tribe, not femininity or masculinity. Even parents do not assign a certain gender to their children. Most of the clothes they wear are neutral, both men and women can wear them. When those children grow up, they will become self-aware of their gender identity and choose to behave and dress appropriately.

The stigma of the LGBTQ community

1. Difficulty in the process of working

According to a 2016 study in the United States, 1 in 4 LGBTQ people will experience discrimination. Even though they are living in a country with an “open” civilization with LGBT like the US. The federal government and most states do not have clear regulations on this issue. According to some LGBT workers, they lose their promotion opportunities because of their sexual orientation. Others were even fired when their superiors found out they were Transgenders.

Job opportunities are also more difficult for LGBTQ people. In addition to employment, there are many difficulties in housing and accessing education. Or simply integrating into the community is not easy for them.

2. Problems in the LGBTQ community

Discrimination, harassment, and violence against LGBT people – especially transgender people. These are common problems in public places. More than a third of Transgenders shared that they have been harassed, even physically.

3. Difficulty in health care

In 2010, more than 50% of LGBTQ people reported being discriminated against by health service providers. More than 25% of transgender people are denied health care altogether. As a result, LGBTQ+ become vulnerable and often avoid doctor’s offices. They even actively delay the necessary prevention and medical care.

Conclusion

LGBTQ deserve a full, equal, and authentic life. This will not be possible if discrimination remains a potential threat. Besides the protection of the Law, each of us should look at them with open, loving eyes and hearts. Let’s be with Happyinktee give LGBTQ the opportunity to be themselves, and to devote their best to society.