Running Head: CULTURAL IMMERSION

Cultural Immersion
Destiney Pattillo
Georgia State University

CULTURAL IMMERSION

Abstract
Over the course of two months Social Work students focused on research and analysis over
specific cultures in society. The focus of the experiment was to learn in depth the social issues
people of various cultures experience. The focal point of this analysis was the LBGTQ
community and religion. The researcher wanted to understand how religion and family values
play into the coming out process for individuals of the LBGTQ population. The study consisted
of an interview which focused on the cultural issues, and discrimination people of this group face
growing up. The candidate being interviewed spoke about the trends, and bullying that this
population faces throughout life based on religious beliefs of what is right and wrong.

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Introduction
Members of the LBGTQ community face many different forms of discrimination today in
America. The analyzer that was focused on researching the LBGTQ population had been
exposed to many different stereotypes surrounding this group in the past. One of the biggest
stereotypes that were spread about this population is the misconception that every person in this
unit is the same, with the same stories. Individuals of this population are discriminated against at
the work place, and in school. Gender roles, and the churches view of what is right and wrong
gives society a since of entitlement when judging this group of people. In particular the
researcher had heard many negative responses about this community in church, and was looked
down upon for befriending individuals that were gay. The researcher saw that people of this
community were shunned at church, and it sparked an interest. How does religion play into the
coming out process, and how does it influence discrimination of these people (Lum, 2011)?
The LBGTQ Community
In the past the researcher had worked with someone apart of the LBGTQ community, and
saw firsthand how bullying occurs in the work place. In the time period of working with this
individual numerous altercations occurred because other men at work picked on him for being
feminine. It became clear that the people saying the most hurtful things at work to the victim
were church goers. It was baffling for the researcher to see how many people were using religion
as their weapon to hurt this individual. The researcher personally did not believe all of the
prejudice gossip that surrounded this population in the media, but as a whole they were
uneducated on the topic. The individual was exposed to members of this community, but only
people that were White and Christian. The student did not understand how other religions
affected the coming out process, and felt it was important to learn how each persons story is
unique and special.
Many people feel that societal hate is a problem of the past, but after interviewing four
individuals of the LBGTQ population it was learned that this problem is an epidemic hurting not
just our generation, but every generation living today. It was more than relevant for the student to
become highly educated on this population, because working in social work involves cultural
awareness and knowledge of ways to help every culture. It began important to the researcher to
learn how personal family and cultural beliefs affected their process. Without background
knowledge about the personal struggles this population faces today working in the field with
these individuals would have been nearly impossible (Bourus, 2010).
Research
Members of the LBGTQ community are targeted by society in many different ways.
There are an extreme number of homeless young adults struggling on the streets due to being
kicked out for being gay. Research suggests that parental acceptance or alienation plays a major
role in the mental health, and success of teens struggling with sexuality. Members of the LBGTQ

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community are at a higher risk of mental health disorders, suicide, and substance abuse. This
statistic is directly linked to the societal stresses people of this community face (Meyer, 2003).
Religion also plays into the discrimination that many individuals face after coming out to
their family and community. The majority of homeless teens on the streets link family culture
and religion to why they were kicked out of their house. Also one study revealed that the
Christian church family is one of the last groups a person comes out to, strictly out of fear of
being judged (Galupo, 2011). Individuals of this population face extreme intersectionality, which
causes discrimination to form within their group. The idea behind intersectionality involves the
intersecting of social identities. This occurs for example, when a person is oppressed for being
LBGTQ, but also is discriminated against for being a Muslim. The Muslim community is many
areas of the world views Homosexuality in any form as a crime. Many countries in the Middle
East treat this crime as punishable by death. Many people in the LBGTQ community in America
hide their sexuality from their Muslim family members out of fear of being exiled from the
family unit (Heather Simmons 2011). The extreme mistreatment of homosexual individuals that
occurs in the Middle East is found in many different forms including, detention, arrest, torture,
and deaths of hundreds of people. These strong beliefs are rooted from the Muslim religion and
take shape in politics and law. The people of the Middle East are fighting to love freely, but the
barriers take form in Muslim American families as well (Heather Simmons, 2009).
The Trans community has staggering statistics surrounding intersectionality. For
example, Transgender individuals of color are more likely to be assaulted, and discriminated
against. The rate of suicide is also higher for Transgender individuals of color. Also women
transitioning into men are still labeled as a weak sex, and treated with Sexism views from
society. This occurrence shows clearly that members of the LBGTQ community are marginalized
for different reasons, and all have unique experiences based off of culture (Crenshaw, 1993).
After Interview
The researcher was very enlightened after talking to Zoey. Zoey explained that her family
is of Jamaican descent and practice the Muslim religion. Zoey was born in America, but her
grandparents on both sides still live in Jamaica. Zoey explained that religion played a huge role
into her coming out process because out of fear of judgement only her mother knows her
sexuality. Her father is a very strict religious man raised by very tough parents. Out of respect for
the family Zoey plans to keep her sexuality a secret to everyone but her mother. She explained to
me that she didnt want her Jamaican relatives to be embarrassed by her, and for a long time she
was ashamed of sexual orientation.
One of the topics the subject spoke on that shocked the interviewer was how young she
was when she realized she was lesbian. At the early age of six Zoey felt attraction to other
females, and loved seeing beautiful women on the television. She elaborated on the fact that she
felt deep down her attraction to other girls was bad. She spoke on the fact that in the eyes of her

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grandfather women are subordinate to men, and that this type of religious betrayal would ruin
their close relationship. She explained that even though her father does not take the religious
practices as serious as her grandfather, it would still cause turmoil between her and her father.
She feels that the culture has been strongly imbedded into her fathers upbringing, and that he
would be ashamed for his parents to find out the truth.

Cultural Work
One strategy that the researcher feels is necessary to use when working with members of
the LBGTQ community is to come into the situation with a want to learn. Social Workers cannot
box people up into categories, and each unique story is important. Many people think they know
numerous gay people so they get their struggles, but every struggle is special. Family
background, and culture play into each persons story, and they are not just a member of the
LBGTQ community. These individuals represent many other groups in society and in some cases
get even more hate thrown their way simply because of their culture.

Conclusion
Even with the recent success the LBGTQ community is still a marginalized minority in
America today. Although, the right of marriage was passed in 2015 the fight for equality is not
over. Members of the LBGTQ community are still being fired, oppressed, and violently attacked
for their sexual orientation. Based on research found at fusion.net twenty transsexual individuals
have been killed in 2015, these statistics show that even with progress major issues still remain.
The hatred that is spread regarding this population does not go away with the passing of laws,
and it will take years of action to see true equality.

References

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Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth: Time for a New Public Health Research and Practice
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Faville. (2007). Categorizing The Other. Latinos In Film , 22.
Lum, D. (2011). Culturally Competent Practice . Belmont, Ca: Cengrage Learning .
Meyer, I. (2003). Prejudice, Social Stress, and Mental Health in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual
Populations: Conceptual Issues and Research Evidence. HHS , 24.
Ortez, V. (2007). Racial Identity and Racial Treatment of Mexican Americans. Acedemia , 16.
Paz, G. (2011). Advancing Diversity through a Framework of Intersectionality: Inclusion of
LGBT Issues in Higher Education. Diversity Digest , 12.
Rivas, J. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2015, from http://fusion.net/story/185799/2015transgender-women-murdered-underreported/
Simmons, H. (2009). Dying for Love: Homosexuality in the Middle East. Human Rights and
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