Independent Study Unit:

DISCRIMINATION OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY

Rachel Bettencourt

Ms. Aylesworth

Global Perspectives

30 May 2017
 Bettencourt 2

Table of Contents

Preface/Definition ..........................................................................................................................3

Summary of Research Methods ....................................................................................................4

Significance .....................................................................................................................................6

Background ....................................................................................................................................7

Experts ..........................................................................................................................................13

Role of Control .............................................................................................................................20

Religion .........................................................................................................................................21

Logic of Evil ..................................................................................................................................23

Case Studies ..................................................................................................................................26

South Africa ...............................................................................................................................26

Saudi Arabia ...............................................................................................................................28

Russia .........................................................................................................................................30

International Organizations........................................................................................................31

Canadian Connection ..................................................................................................................34

Solutions ........................................................................................................................................37

Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................38

Appendix .......................................................................................................................................39

Bibliography .................................................................................................................................42
 Bettencourt 3

Preface/Definition

Despite its tendency to be constantly updated, the abbreviation LGBTQ currently stands

for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer identities. The communities supporting these

identities were created from the need to overcome oppression and celebrate pride, sexuality,

individuality, and diversity. This building of community is seen by activists and sociologists as a

counterbalance to heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, sexualism, and conformist

pressures that exist in the larger society.1 Gender and sexuality are not simple dichotomies as

girl/boy and straight/gay, they are much more complex. This complexity is often perceived as a

threat to religious beliefs as well as the heterosexual and cisgender2 normative culture. The level

of intolerance varies between and within countries, often depending on the influence of religion

in the government. Despite its significant contribution, discrimination transcends beyond just

religious beliefs. These conventions of hate and fear are ingrained deep in societies social

structures. For LGBTQ people in developing countries, such as Saudi Arabia and South Africa,

this hatred poses an extreme threat. However, circumstances like these are not restricted to

developing countries. Russia, with a stable economy and a modern society, is rampant with

homophobic and transphobic laws. Although there are many elements to the mistreatment of the

LGBTQ community that need to be rectified, the main focus centres around decriminalization

and equality.

1
(n.d.). Retrieved May 30, 2017, from http://dbpedia.org/page/LGBT_community

2
Cisgender is an adjective referring to someone who identifies with the gender they were assigned at birth.
 Bettencourt 4

Summary of Research Methods

This report was developed using a variety of methods to accurately identify the

discrimination of the LGBTQ community as a global issue. These means to compile the research

required range from videos, books including a memoir by Holocaust survivor Pierre Seel (Moi,

Pierre Seel, deporte homosexual), articles, websites, interviews, news outlets, and varied forms

of social media. In the case studies and background portion of this report, stories of persecution

and trauma have been used to emphasize the human connection of this global issue.

One of the most impactful sources of information was gathered through interviews with

experts in the LGBTQ community and the struggles they face. These experts are Evelyn

Tomaszewski, M. V. Lee Badgett, Dr. Michael Ian Rothenberg, and Jake Feldman. Although the

experts are limited to North America, they represent a variety of organisations that extend far

beyond their borders: NASW (The National Association of Social Workers), The Williams

Institute at UCLA School of Law, and The Gilbert Centre. Other organizations that were used to

conduct research are the United Nations, Amnesty International, ILGA, the NOH8 campaign,

InterPride, The Human Rights Campaign, as well as The Westboro Baptist Church, which was

used to provide insight into an organization supporting LGBTQ discrimination. The social media

accounts and websites of these people and organizations have also been examined to understand

more about their role in this issue.

 Bettencourt 5

When you hear of Gay Pride, remember, it was not born out of a need to celebrate being gay.

It evolved out of our need as human beings to break free of oppression and to exist without being

criminalized, pathologized or persecuted.

Depending on a number of factors, particularly religion, freeing ourselves from gay shame and

coming to self-love and acceptance, can not only be an agonising journey, it can take years.

Tragically some don't make it.

Instead of wondering why there isn't a straight pride be grateful you have never needed one.

Celebrate with us.3

3
Venn-Brown, A. (2007). A life of unlearning: a journey to find the truth. Sydney: New Holland .
 Bettencourt 6

Significance

Sexuality is not a crime. Gender identity is not a crime. Diversity should be celebrated in

every aspect of life, especially relative to sexuality and gender. The discrimination of LGBTQ

people is not just an attack on the LGBTQ community it is an attack on fundamental human

rights. Despite its current state of subjectivity, equal rights should be a universal ideal. Potential

for this ideal has been shown in instances such as the United Nations Universal Declaration of

Human Rights which clearly states in Article 1, 2, and 3 that All human beings are born free

and equal in dignity and rights., Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in

this Declaration, without distinction of any kind [] and Everyone has the right to life, liberty

and security of person.4 Not every country adheres to these guidelines and cases across the

globe still occur where an individuals sexual orientation or gender identity can lead them to face

execution, imprisonment, torture, violence or discrimination.5 Often in such places the

government refuses to acknowledge the crimes. Sometimes, the government is the perpetrator of

the crimes committed against LGBTQ people, leading to the development of a culture where

intolerance and hate is accepted if not encouraged. A great amount of these hate crimes stem

from the mentality that deviations from acceptable sexualities or genders can and should be

fixed. These attempts at trying to cure the LGBTQ community can range from acts such as

corrective rape to conversion therapy, each horrific in its own right. Discriminatory social and

religious hierarchies have created an unsafe environment for the LGBTQ community where even

the security of family is diminished by the fear of rejection. Moreover these situations have

4
Articles of the UN Universal Declaration, International Law. (n.d.). Retrieved April 05, 2017,
from http://www.humanrights.com/what-are-human-rights/universal-declaration-of-human-rights/articles-01-10.html
5
About LGBT Human Rights. (n.d.). Retrieved March 10, 2017, from
http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/issues/lgbt-rights/about-lgbt-human-rights
 Bettencourt 7

caused LGBTQ people to be more susceptible to abuse, suicide, and mental health problems. It is

imperative that attention be brought towards this issue so that the cycle of injustice can be

stopped.

Background

There is a common misconception that the act of being gay, bisexual, or transgender is a

modern occurrence when in fact LGBTQ people have been recorded as early as 8,000 B.C.,

made example of by ancient San rock paintings illustrating acts of homosexuality found in

Zimbabwe, Africa.6 LGBTQ history is also not limited to certain parts of the world, in ancient

China many monarchs were described as having male lovers, and in Egypt, 2460 B.C., King

Neferkare was one of the earliest pharaohs associated with homosexuality due to an affair he was

said to have had with his top military commander.7 Around 1200 B.C. the prophet Moses condemned

crossdressing and homosexuality in the Book of Leviticus, punishing the latter by death for both men

and women.8 However this revelation had not yet affected places like ancient Greece where it was

expected of notable men in society to have a young male lover, as well as in The Cybele cult of

Greece where men would voluntarily castrate themselves, wear womens clothing, and assume

female names and identities. It was not until the emergence of Christianity in the Roman Empire

that homosexuality and crossdressing started being criminalized. During the seventh century

6
Wilhelm, A. (n.d.). GALVA-108: Gay & Lesbian Vaishnava Association. Retrieved April 06, 2017, from http://www.galva108.org/single-

post/2014/05/08/A-Timeline-of-Gay-World-History

7
Ibid
8
Ibid
 Bettencourt 8

Sharia law was formulated and was gradually established throughout the Islamic world,

punishing homosexuality with flagellation or death. By the beginning of the modern era

expeditions across the world began revealing an acceptance of crossdressing and homosexuality

within indigenous tribes. In the Lesothos Lovedu tribe in South Africa, for example, a large

harem of wives was kept by Queen Mujaji I, legitimizing the practice for other neighboring

tribes. The knowledge of homosexuality being a pre-exiting lifestyle in Africa is often rejected

within African communities and replaced with the notion that homosexuality was a product of

colonialization when in fact it is a deep rooted history on their continent. European explorers

have been recording instances of homosexuality in Africa from the 16th century onwards, using it

to reinforce ideas of African societies in need of Christian cleansing.9 Furthermore, it was

homophobia, not homosexuality, that was a product of colonization in Africa.

There have been records of gender diversity in almost all cultures across human history.

One culture in particular that is frequently overlooked is First Nations Communities. Through the

discovery of Native artifacts, evidence has shown that, prior to colonialization, Native people

believed in the existence of cross-gender roles. This has been documented in over 155 tribes

across Native North America.10 These individuals are now known to the Native culture as the

two-spirited person. In traditional culture two-spirited people were held to a high regard since

they were believed to carry multiple spirits, that of a male and a female. Ceremonies and rituals

were even held to help celebrate the identity of two-spirited people within the tribes and

determine how they should be brought up or what roles they would take within the tribe (see

9
Evaristo, B. (2014, March 08). The idea that African homosexuality was a colonial import is a myth. Retrieved April 06, 2017, from
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/08/african-homosexuality-colonial-import-myth
10
Laframboise, S., & Anhorn, M. (2006, January 21). Links. Retrieved April 06, 2017, from
http://www.dancingtoeaglespiritsociety.org/twospirit.php
 Bettencourt 9

Appendix I). Two-spirit women engaged in tribal warfare and married other women, and vice

versa two-spirit men would wear women's clothes and possibly take a husband depending on the

gender norms of the two-spirit man in his tribe.11 The destruction of Native communities and

their practices resulted in a loss of many cultural values including that of honouring cross-gender

individuals. Residential schools and other forms of colonialization have also affected elders

sharing their stories and teachings as a result of lasting fear from their past experiences.

The twentieth century brought many firsts for the LGBTQ community including the first

modern sex change operation in 1930 as well as the first Gay Pride parades occurring later in

1970 in Chicago, New York, and San Francisco. These parades marked the first anniversary of

the Stonewall riots, largely regarded as the birth of the modern gay rights movement, which

broke out at the Stonewall Inn in New York City as a response to routine police harassment.12

From the 1970s to the twenty-first century changes had begun across the world in favor of the

LGBTQ community: Sweden enacted the worlds first law legalizing transsexual operations,

France became the first country in the world to establish an anti-discrimination law protecting

homosexuals, equal rights, and freedom from discrimination were guaranteed to homosexuals

and transgender individuals under Canadas new Charter of Rights and Freedoms, civil unions

were established for gay couples in Denmark, and finally by 2001 the Netherlands became the

first country to legalize same-sex marriage. However these accomplishments cannot be properly

acknowledged without drawing attention to the countless instances of suffering that also

11
Laframboise, S., & Anhorn, M. (2006, January 21). Links. Retrieved April 06, 2017, from
http://www.dancingtoeaglespiritsociety.org/twospirit.php
12
Wilhelm, A. (n.d.). GALVA-108: Gay & Lesbian Vaishnava Association. Retrieved April 06, 2017, from
http://www.galva108.org/single-post/2014/05/08/A-Timeline-of-Gay-World-History
 Bettencourt 10

occurred during the twentieth century, specifically of that revolving around conversion therapy,

the Holocaust, and the HIV/AIDS crisis.

Despite the statistics showing that gay conversion therapy causes serious medical and

psychological harm it still frequently occurs around the world, with only five U.S. states and two

Canadian provinces outlawing gay conversion for minors, and the tiny island of Malta being the

only European nation to outlaw it in 2016. Gay conversion therapy is any treatment that aims to

turn gay, lesbian, or transgender individuals into heterosexual or cisgender people. These

attempts have been performed by medical professionals, religious leaders, or counsellors usually

involving a variety of behavioural cognitive psychological therapies. The basis for modern gay

conversion therapy began in the 1920s when homosexuality was widely believed to be a birth

defect. The earliest form of conversion therapy was to remove one testicle from a gay man and

replace that with a heterosexual donor testicle but when this proved to be both ineffective and

harmful, psychiatrists and medical professionals like Sigmund Freud began to classify

homosexuality as a mental disorder treatable with psychotherapy and medication. 13 Later on

Freud concluded that homosexuality was in fact not an illness and publicly discouraged any

treatment of it, most notably in his letter to a parent concerned over having a gay child (see

Appendix II). His advice did not prevail though and by the 1950s treatments such as electric

shock, hypnosis, and induced nausea became widely accepted treatments for homosexuality. It

wasnt until the early 1970s that psychiatrists began releasing studies that showed homosexuals

had no developmental inferiority when compared to heterosexuals. By 1973, the American

13
Daily, S. (2016, December 13). The Dark History Of Gay Conversion Therapy. Retrieved April 06, 2017, from https://youtu.be/n3ujZmHyfP8
 Bettencourt 11

Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its manual of mental disorders, urging

health professionals to inform their patients of conversion therapys harm and fraudulence. 14

It is well known that the Nazi Regime showed an extreme intolerance for many races and

lifestyles during the Holocaust. However, often overlooked is the persecution of LGBTQ people

during this time, most significantly gay men. During Hitlers rise into power, gay organizations

were banned and scholarly books regarding homosexuality were burned and in 1935, the Nazi

government expanded its criminalization of homosexuality.15 An estimated 100,000 homosexual

men, and to a lesser extent women, were arrested or sent to prisons; between 5,000 and 15,000

were sent to concentration camps, where some were forced to wear pink triangles on their

uniform to denote being gay.16 This denotation caused a hierarchy within the camps themselves,

furthering the torment homosexual prisoners were already forced to face. According to Rdiger

Lautmann, a German LGBT scholar, as many as 60% of those sent to the camps perished.17

Pierre Seel was the only French survivor to speak out about his experience as a gay victim of the

Holocaust. In his accounts he detailed the traumatizing life for gay men during Nazi control

including his own personal tragedy of being forced to watch his teenage lover Jo being executed.

Seel explained how the Nazi guards stripped Jo of his clothes, placed a metal bucket over his

head, and released dogs on him, mauling him to death.18 In 1945, at the end of World War II the

concentration camps were liberated, however this liberation did not extend to everyone. Even

14
Ibid
15
The Gay Holocaust - we must NEVER forget. (n.d.). Retrieved April 06, 2017, from http://www.stop-homophobia.com/thegayholocaust.htm

16
Ridley, L. (2015, January 26). Gays, Gypsies And Priests: The Forgotten Victims Of The Holocaust. Retrieved April 06, 2017, from
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/01/25/non-jewish-holocaust-victims_n_6500948.html

17
Ibid
18
Alexander, C. (2014, September 1). Three Gay Holocaust Survivors Remember. Retrieved May 13, 2017, from
http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=64065
 Bettencourt 12

after the war was over the LGBTQ community still faced persecution. Gay men and women were

forced to stay in concentration camps or be sent to prisons, and those who did escape further

imprisonment found themselves ostracized from society.19 Memorials which were meant to

recognize and commemorate those who suffered, such as that of the monument at the Dachau

concentration camp, excluded certain groups. The monument created in 1968 illustrated the

variety of symbols representing the communities exiled within the camps with certain symbols

intentionally left off, namely the pink triangle (see Appendix III). LGBTQ people were

eventually acknowledged as prominent victims in the Holocaust but only after decades had

passed. I became aware that, in spite of my expectations, in spite of all I had imagined, of the

long-awaited joy of returning, the true liberation was for other people, wrote Pierre Seel in his

memoir, Moi, Pierre Seel, Deporte Homosexuel [I, Pierre Seel, Deported Homosexual].20

Many years after the Second World War, the LGBTQ community was struck with

another wave of discrimination. In 1981 HIV/AIDS was diagnosed among homosexual

American men for the first time. This epidemic sparked great fear and unease for gay men

around the world. The detrimental situation was worsened by the homophobic media coverage

which used terms such as the gay plague. These notions were false since AIDS was neither a

plague nor a direct consequence of ones sexual orientation.21 This newfound knowledge did not

change the negative connotations already associated with this new disease. By 1983 it was

slowly becoming clear that AIDS was a far reaching issue that affected people regardless of their

19
The Gay Holocaust - we must NEVER forget. (n.d.). Retrieved April 06, 2017, from http://www.stop-homophobia.com/thegayholocaust.htm
20
Ridley, L. (2015, January 26). Gays, Gypsies And Priests: The Forgotten Victims Of The Holocaust. Retrieved April 06, 2017, from
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/01/25/non-jewish-holocaust-victims_n_6500948.html
21
Clews, C. (2016, July 15). 1980s. HIV/AIDS: Why was AIDS called 'the gay plague'? Retrieved April 06, 2017, from
http://www.gayinthe80s.com/2014/04/1980s-hivaids-why-was-aids-called-the-gay-plague/
 Bettencourt 13

sexual orientation. Studies in Africa, for example, revealed pre-existing cases of AIDS long

before its appearance in the West and that the transmittance of it was mainly through

heterosexual sex. However, the damage was done and lasting repercussions were left on the

LGBTQ community.

Experts

Evelyn Tomaszewski

Evelyn Tomaszewski is the senior policy advisor at NASW (The National Association of

Social Workers) and serves as a Project Director to the multi-phase, federally funded NASW

HIV/AIDS Spectrum Project in collaboration with the National HIV Mental Health Training and

Resource Center. This project seeks to provide the skills needed to enhance and promote

culturally competent practice with individuals, families, and communities affected by

HIV/AIDS. Ms. Tomaszewski has written numerous articles, curricula, and blogs addressing

HIV/AIDS, LGBT equity, and violence prevention. She has co-authored multiple professional

policy statements addressing genetics, HIV/AIDS, transgender and gender non-conforming

persons, LGB persons, and International Human Rights. She is also responsible for overseeing

policy and programming focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)

communities. Ms. Tomaszewski is an appointed member of the Forum on Global Violence

Prevention (the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine) and has a Masters in

Social Work (WVU), a Certificate in Procurement and Contracts Management, and a Certificate

in Leadership Development from the UVA.

 Bettencourt 14

Are there any parts of your personal journey that you would be comfortable sharing?

I was 5 years old when JFK was assassinated, and 10 years old when MLK was

assassinated and riots broke out in my hometown of Newark NJ, and our familys towns in

southern NJ. I lived with the Vietnam War taking our brothers away, and remembering sighing

deeply when my older brother had a very high number of the draft list. I was fascinated by

Watergate, and the growing feminist movement. I marched in ACT UP demonstrations and

PRIDE parades when people would throw things at you. I worked in rural Appalachia during the

longest coal strike in the history of the US, have helped women flee their homes (note to self:

not the safest job), and trained cops on how to respond to sexual assault victims. And I have been

invited to the Obama White House for briefing and celebrations for LGBT month. I start with

this because each of these and many more have helped craft my views and actions as a social

worker committed to promoting human rights and social justice. A commitment even more

critical in an era of alternative truths.

Why do you believe the discrimination of LGBTQ communities is a significant issue?

When discrimination is translated into law, that is the biggest or most significant issue. If

as a person of any age- you see that your democratic government does not view you as an

equal that can magnify into a range of challenges for LGBTQ person and their allies.

The other part of this is the impact of discrimination on health. Just look at HIV in our nation. It

was ignorance and discrimination that killed thousands of young men and women because no

one wanted to do anything because it was a gay disease. Regrettably, we exported this same

stigma and shame to other countries, resulting in a delayed response to HIV globally because it

was not addressed as a public health issue, but rather (and erroneously) as a person issue.
 Bettencourt 15

What is the biggest misconception about the discrimination against the LGBTQ

community, or just the LGBTQ community in general?

There is a misconception that laws against LGBTQ persons actually limit people. The

ironic lens that we dont need laws because we are all equal and everyone treats others fairly, yet

we create laws and regulations designed to specifically NOT treat everyone equally.

In your opinion, why do so many people discriminate against or mistreat the LGBTQ

community?

Those are two different terms. People discriminate because they wish to hold a higher

position or believe their status or position or place in life is more important or the standard.

People mistreat because they are angry or cruel or frankly, not very interested in growing

themselves to better understand others.

What products of discrimination do you think are currently the most serious to LGBTQ

people?

I think discrimination can impact relationships and hurt families. If we are afraid to

admit we are LGBT or have family members who identify as LGBTQ, etc. that affects our

psychological and emotional and physical health. And that discrimination can ooze into the

social structures that we all hold dear and really hurt families, communities, and individuals.

What problems have you faced or witnessed in the LGBTQ community personally?

Just read the data. Lower wages, violence and abuse, self-directed harm, housing

challenges, loss of children or custody, use of so-called reparative therapy to change someone

to be heterosexual.
 Bettencourt 16

What solutions do you think should be implemented to help diminish or eradicate the

discrimination of the LGBTQ community?

Awareness, empathy, laws and regulations to protect (for there will always be the

ignorant), dialog.

What is your opinion on previous attempts to solve this issue?

Previous attempts have resulted in great changes in legislation at the state level and a

little bit is still left at the federal level. P-Flag was a trailblazer group that has allowed many

other peer driven groups to emerge. My opinion is we learn from the past, bring forward what is

useful, and create even better.

M. V. Lee Badgett

M. V. Lee Badgett is a Williams Distinguished Scholar at the Williams Institute at UCLA

School of Law and an expert on family policy issues and labor market discrimination based on

sexual orientation, race, and gender. Badgett has written and co-authored many ground-breaking

books including her first book, Money, Myths, and Change: The Economic Lives of Lesbians and

Gay Men, and her latest, When Gay People Get Married: What Happens When Societies Legalize

Same-Sex Marriage. She is frequently quoted in major newspapers across the country and was

even named by Advocate magazine as one of Our Best and Brightest Activists in 1999 for her

research and efforts in founding the Institute for Gay and Lesbian Strategic Studies which has

now merged with the Williams Institute. Badgett is also the director of the Center for Public

Policy and Administration at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, as well as a professor of

economics. Her work in policy entails testifying as an expert witness in legislative matters and
 Bettencourt 17

litigation, analyzing public policies, consulting with regulatory bodies, briefing policymakers,

writing op-ed pieces, speaking with journalists, and advising businesses.22 Badgett has a Ph.D. in

economics from the University of California-Berkeley, and a BA in economics from the

University of Chicago.

Why do you believe the discrimination of LGBTQ communities is a significant issue?

Discrimination hurts real people. LGBT people experience economic hardship when they

lose their jobs or get paid less because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Their

families don't have the resources they should have. Their health, both mental and physical, can

be affected negatively by unequal treatment.

This kind of treatment of human beings is both a human rights violation and it hurts the

economy. Discrimination holds people back from gaining skills and using those skills to make

the best contribution to the economy.

In your opinion, why do so many people discriminate against or mistreat the LGBTQ

community?

Some people think it's a moral issue--homosexuality goes against their religious or other

moral beliefs--and so they feel like they have to treat LGBT people badly. Some people don't

know enough about LGBT people, so they might fear them or be disgusted by them. Others are

22
M.V. Lee Badgett, Williams Distinguished Scholar. (2015, March 10). Retrieved May 14, 2017, from
http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/experts/lee-badgett/lee-badgett/
 Bettencourt 18

resentful of LGBT people because of the stereotype or "myth of gay affluence"--they see gay

people as being well off economically.

What solutions do you think should be implemented to help diminish or eradicate the

discrimination of the LGBTQ community?

There are many things to be done at lots of levels. LGBT people need to come out and

talk to their friends and family about their lives--that's something that research shows is a very

effective strategy for changing minds. Allies--especially those who are publicly prominent--need

to be open about their support of LGBT people, both to the LGBT people themselves and to

others who say or believe homophobic ideas. And we have to change policies to outlaw

discrimination in schools, workplaces, businesses, and other public settings. People can have

homophobic beliefs, but laws can stop them from acting on them.

Dr. Michael Ian Rothenberg

Dr. Michael Ian Rothenberg, an internationally recognized specialist in the Field of

Human Sexuality, is a Licensed Psychotherapist, and Licensed Clinical Social Worker

(LCSW). He provides specialized, supportive and affirmative counseling and sex therapy for

lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals and couples. Human Sexuality has been

taught by Dr. Rothenberg at both the University of Central Florida (UCF) and Barry University.

Hundreds of mental health practitioners have been personally trained by him including Marriage

and Family Therapists, Mental Health Counselors, and Clinical Social Workers on how to

provide sex positive, non-judgmental, counseling and therapy for LGBTQ individuals and
 Bettencourt 19

couples.23 He has received a Masters Degree in Social Work and a Ph.D. in Clinical Sexology

(Human Sexuality) from the American Academy of Clinical Sexologists.

Why do you believe the discrimination of LGBTQ communities is a significant issue?

Sexual rights are human rights and anything less than full equality for all human beings is

inherently harmful to a person's psychological health and emotional wellbeing.

In your opinion, why do so many people discriminate against or mistreat the LGBTQ

community?

There's a great deal of misunderstanding out there. A lot of it has to do with religiosity

and a misinterpretation of religious texts like the Bible. This leads to false sense of what's "right

and wrong".

What problems have you faced or witnessed in the LGBTQ community personally?

Since my practice is based in Orlando, Florida, I personally witnessed the aftermath of

the massacre at the Pulse nightclub. Many LGBTQ individuals and couples were impacted

including those who were not at the club that night. The shooting eroded people's sense of safety

in the world and exacerbated long held fears and anxieties about what it means to be living as an

LGBT person.

23
Licensed Psychotherapist - Board Certified Clinical Sexologist - Certified Sex Therapist. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2017, from
http://www.counselingandsextherapy.com/
 Bettencourt 20

What solutions do you think should be implemented to help diminish or eradicate the

discrimination of the LGBTQ community?

The key to helping to diminish or eradicate discrimination in the LGBTQ community

truly starts with education. This includes the education of children as well as adults.

Role of Control

Control is always a key concept when discussing the oppression and discrimination of

groups of people. Misplaced control is often what has started or sustained the global issues that

affect the world today. In the case of the LGBTQ community, control has been largely held by

governments. Despite the many efforts in certain places to separate the two, religion has had an

immense influence on the government. Religion has not taken the most favourable positions

towards gay or transgender individuals, which has led to laws that exclude or discriminate

against them. For the most part no one is obligated to follow a certain religion but they are

obligated to follow the rules that govern their society. If those rules are homophobic or

transphobic then these prejudiced values will reflect in their culture.

Another major force that has control of this issue is the media, specifically of that

portrayed through people of privilege. The heteronormative, cis-normative, and predominantly

white population has misrepresented the LGBTQ narrative, especially LGBTQ people of colour.

The power and voice needs to be given back to these members of the community so they can

shed light upon the serious issues that afflict their communities. Media has slowly begun to

address issues affecting the LGBTQ community, but there is still often a misrepresentation of
 Bettencourt 21

what concerns are truly the most relevant. Common issues such as marriage equality and

bullying do not bear the same significance as other topics such as homeless LGBTQ youth,

abuse, and mental health, which are seldom portrayed in the media.

The members of the LGBTQ community need more control in their government and

media situation as they have first-hand knowledge of their struggles and barriers. It is not enough

for their policy needs or media portrayals to be told from an outsider perspective, they need to be

given a voice on the issues that directly affects them. Since the discrimination of the LGBTQ

community is a human rights issue then it should be a concern for everyone. However, those

with the biggest stake in the issue are those within the community themselves; which is why

control should be held by them.

Religion

Religion is a significant force in society which must be recognized irrespective of ones

own personal beliefs. It has shaped history and is present in almost every facet of life. Religion

offers a powerful lens with which to look at the topic of LGBTQ discrimination, demanding both

a negative and positive account of religions role in this issue. The most common religions

associated with the LGBTQ community are Islam and Christianity since they have a reputation

of portraying discriminatory qualities and are prominent in societies with transphobic and

homophobic laws. This reputation was not formed without justification though; countless

casualties have amassed as a direct result of Islamic and Christian scriptures used to justify the
 Bettencourt 22

persecution of LGBTQ people. In Islam sodomy is considered the 11th major sin and

homosexuality is condemned in both the Qur'an and the Bible:

Will you commit lewdness such as no people in creation ever committed before you?

For you come in lust to men in preference to women. No, you are indeed a people

transgressing beyond bounds

(Qur'an 7:80-81)24

If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed

an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

(Leviticus 20:13)25

However, both holy texts also project ideals of love and acceptance proving that the adherence to

religion is ultimately subjective. It is easy to blame the religion and assume that one religion is

better than another when in fact almost all religions can be interpreted to justify personal bigotry.

LGBTQ representation has been present in many ancient religions as exemplified in

countless mythologies, most notably Greek and Roman. What is lesser known is the presence of

LGBTQ acceptance in religions that have a current role in the world. Jewish tradition recognizes

a wide range of gender diversity. In fact traditional Judaism was quite progressive with ideas of

multiple genders and sexes rooted in rabbinic texts.26

24
H. (2016, November 16). What Does Islam Say About Homosexuality? Retrieved May 21, 2017, from
https://www.thoughtco.com/homosexuality-in-islam-2004396

25
BibleGateway. (n.d.). Retrieved May 21, 2017, from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2B20%3A13&version=KJV

26
Dashow, J. (2015, February 09). Gender Diversity in Jewish Tradition. Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.reformjudaism.org/jewish-
lifesocial-justice-advocacy/jewish-views-on%E2%80%A6/health-wellnesscivil-rights/gender-diversity
 Bettencourt 23

Religion, although a very complex and controversial force, has undeniably influenced

what society defines as normal. The most physical manifestation of these religious ideals has

been within the Government. It is apparent in places such as Saudi Arabia where homosexuality

is criminalized and religion holds a greater influence over the laws and regulations. The right to

practice any religion is an important if not essential part of a just society, but this justice is

contradicted if individuals are denied rights simply for their identity.

Logic of Evil

Understanding why people do what they do is not the same as supporting them. It is easy

to just say that someone is evil, that there are good people and there are bad people. However,

like most things in life, evil is an abstract concept. What might seem morally wrong in some

places is just the way of life in others. Furthermore, abundant insight into this issue can be

gained from breaking down the barriers of comprehension.

Homophobia and transphobia, words that encompass a larger range of meaning when it

comes to the dislike and prejudice of LGBTQ people, are rooted in the word phobia as in a fear

of something. A prime motivator of many evil acts is fear. The origin of this fear depends on

values placed in certain aspects of the society. Family values are an example of a cultural

standard that once attacked, can catalyze fearful schisms. Family values generally originate from

religious and cultural beliefs which hold pro-creation and marriage between a man and woman to

very high regards. Many anti-LGBTQ organizations have arisen in means to protect these values.

Such organizations include The Westboro Baptist Church, a congregation in Kansas known for
 Bettencourt 24

its pickets and hate speeches directed primarily towards LGBTQ people. From the URL of their

website: www.godhatesfags.com, it is evident right from the first impression that the

discrimination of the gay community is a fundamental element of their convictions. Also

included in their website is an FAQ portion where they reply to the publics questions in regards

to what they do and stand for. These resources provide interesting perspectives of religious

fundamentalists and offers reasoning behind their actions. Through their responses it is clear to

see that they believe it is their duty as followers of God to educate and protest the infringement

of LGBTQ people on their religion: What we do is what we are commanded to do.27 The Bible

is used as ammunition in many of their speeches condoning hate with the assertion that if it is not

accepted in scripture it is not accepted by God. Referring back to the topic of fear, that of the

LGBTQ community, in its simplest forms is a fear of the unknown. Binary genders and a

singular sexuality are easier to understand than an evolving spectrum of identities. Frequently

when confronted with complex and challenging notions, people will reject them and strengthen

their defense for previously held beliefs.

Although it is a clear factor in the discrimination of the LGBTQ community, religious

ideologies do not have to be present for ideas about differentiating sexualities and genders to be

perceived as a threat. In Africa, for example, it has been claimed that homosexuality is an un-

African and Western imposition. Here homophobic and transphobic attitudes are used to aid in

rejection of Western culture, or what is believed to be Western culture. Partial blame for this

continued persecution falls upon U.S.-funded evangelical Christian groups for exporting

27
(n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.godhatesfags.com/faq.html
 Bettencourt 25

discriminatory views, but Africas political leaders such as presidents Yahya Jammeh of the

Gambia and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda are also responsible for using anti-gay rhetoric to

increase their power base and popularity.28

The manner in which different societies around the world condone such behaviour is a

product of many varied factors: hierarchy of importance, cultural beliefs, the way their society

has developed, role of religion, etc. However, an assumption that is frequently made is that the

state of a countrys morals is simply a consequence of their underdevelopment. Being unable to

sustain a stable structure in a country does affect the communities within it but not so majorly

that it is the biggest contributing factor to unjust and hateful actions. The United States, for

example, is a developed country yet in many of States the execution of a murderer is considered

justifiable. This is primarily because it is believed that the crime they committed is such a drastic

violation of the societal morals that death is the only suitable form of punishment. In Western

culture committing murder and being LGBTQ are two vastly different things, the latter of which

is not considered to be a crime. However, in countries like Saudi Arabia being gay or transgender

is also considered to be a drastic violation of the societal morals, so much so that the violence

targeted towards them is justifiable. This does not make their viewpoint acceptable, but it does

shed some light on why they might believe it is.

28
Evaristo, B. (2014, March 08). The idea that African homosexuality was a colonial import is a myth. Retrieved April 06, 2017, from
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/08/african-homosexuality-colonial-import-myth
 Bettencourt 26

Case Study: South Africa

LGBTQ rights in South Africa appear to be legally protected by laws legalizing adoption,

marriage, and gender change. However, when a survey was done in 2013 it revealed that 61% of

the population still believed that society should not accept homosexuality.29 This lack of

acceptance originates from the country's presupposed need to reject western values. Leaders

from South Africa and neighboring countries only further this belief by spouting anti-gay

rhetoric such as the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, who stated that homosexuals are

lower than dogs and pigs, and We as chiefs should fight against such western practices and

respect our culture.30 Cultural intolerance of LGBTQ people in South Africa is an ongoing issue

there and has led to horrific acts against humanity including corrective rape. Corrective rape is a

hate crime targeting people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity with the intention

of turning them heterosexual or enforcing gender conformity through rape. The term corrective

rape was coined in South Africa during the early 2000s after an influx of attacks on lesbians.

This influx has only increased over time, one support group in Cape Town telling ActionAid

researchers in 2009 they deal with 10 new cases every week.31 These cases revealed a surprising

lack of criminal justice in spite of South Africas many legal protections against discrimination.

Even more shocking was the common occurrence of family involvement within these cases of

rape, such as that of Pearl Mali whose own mother let a man from their church rape her for four

29 Equaldex. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.equaldex.com/region/south-africa

30 Klauda, G. (2010, December 8). Globalizing Homophobia. Retrieved May 29, 2017, from https://mronline.org/2010/12/08/globalizing-
homophobia/#_edn26

31
Strudwick, P. (2014, January 03). Crisis in South Africa: The shocking practice of 'corrective rape' - aimed at 'curing' lesbians. Retrieved May
14, 2017, from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/crisis-in-south-africa-the-shocking-practice-of-corrective-rape-
aimed-at-curing-lesbians-9033224.html
 Bettencourt 27

years in attempt to make her straight. Not all victims of corrective rape are survivors though; at

least 31 women in the past 10 years have been reported killed due to it.32 In 2007, a gay rights

activist named Sizakele Sigasa and her friend Salone Massooa were executed outside of a bar for

their appearance as tomboys. They were gang raped, tortured, tied up with their underwear, and

shot in the head, without anyone being convicted.33 Gift Makaus story also highlighted the

horror of this hate crime when her mother found her naked and strangled in a back alley, a wire

around her neck and an open hosepipe pushed down her throat. Disebo 'Gift' Makau was a young

lesbian from Ventersdorp, North West province of South Africa and enjoyed playing games of

football in her neighbourhood. According to her cousin, when she came out to her parents she

was not met with any torment from her immediate community. However, on August 15th 2014,

within this very same community, she was raped, tortured, and killed.

In this kind of hostile environment, LGBT individuals have few places to turn to for help.

The police station is often not a sanctuary for those who have been raped. The laws created to

end discrimination have done little in a culture overwhelmed by homophobia and transphobia;

Funeka Soldaat, the founder of the Khayelitsha-based lesbian advocacy group Free Gender and a

survivor of corrective rape can attest to that fact:

"The constitution is there but it doesn't mean anything to anyone. Even if you know how

the constitution works, you don't know how to use it to protect yourself. If you don't have

money you don't have access to the justice system. Violence in the townships is normal.

32
Ibid
33
Strudwick, P. (2014, January 03). Crisis in South Africa: The shocking practice of 'corrective rape' - aimed at 'curing' lesbians. Retrieved May
15, 2017, from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/crisis-in-south-africa-the-shocking-practice-of-corrective-rape-aimed-at-curing-
lesbians-9033224.html
 Bettencourt 28

Homosexuality is [seen as] un-African. Patriarchy is everywhere. The way religious

leaders read scripture is painful. Children start raping at 14, 15 and take pictures. We're

sitting on a time bomb."34

Clare Carter, a photographer from New York who went to South Africa in 2011 to

photograph the victims of corrective rape has taken account of this systematic discrimination

throughout her trip:

It's a deeply patriarchal country she says. Men are numero uno in the townships and

use corrective rape as a tool to assert their masculinity, all while egging each other on.

Combine that with a lack of education, high unemployment leading to mass boredom,

frustration and problems with drink and drugs and you have a perfect storm for

patriarchal sadism. And because the police and courts do nothing there's no consequence

to corrective rape, which normalises it. It's not seen as a big thing."35

While legal protections for LGBTQ people are offered in South Africa, legal resources

are not effective for people affected by immense cultural homophobia and transphobia.

34
Ibid
35
Strudwick, P. (2014, January 03). Crisis in South Africa: The shocking practice of 'corrective rape' - aimed at 'curing' lesbians. Retrieved May
15, 2017, from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/crisis-in-south-africa-the-shocking-practice-of-corrective-rape-aimed-at-curing-
lesbians-9033224.html
 Bettencourt 29

Case Study: Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, unlike South Africa, does not have any laws protecting the LGBTQ

community. In fact, homosexuality is considered a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment,

fines, lashes, and even death. Any attempts towards advocacy for LGBTQ rights have also been

made illegal. Harassment and violence on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity is

encouraged within Saudi Arabia primarily due to the religious Islamic beliefs structured within

their government. These laws and regulations have caused many members of the LGBTQ

community to be persecuted over the past years. In 2002 three men were executed by beheading

for being gay, and in 2014 a three year imprisonment and 450 lashes was sentenced to another

gay man for meeting men on Twitter.36 One of the more recent instances of violence was in

March of this year when 35-year-old Amna and 26-year-old Meeno from Pakistan were allegedly

killed by police after being arrested. The police had raided a house in Saudi Arabia, taking 35

transgender people into custody, including Amna and Meeno. According to human rights

activist, Amna and Meeno were then put in bags, kicked and beaten with sticks, and eventually

tortured to death. Qamar Naseem, an activist for feminism and social rights from the Blue Veins

group, received information that they were arrested for cross-dressing and having same-sex

relationships in the capital of Riyadh.37 Activists have been working constantly to get

36
OConnell, K. (2016, April 13). At UN Human Rights Council, Saudi Arabia Supports Right To Torture & Execute LGBT People. Retrieved
April 09, 2017, from http://www.mintpressnews.com/un-human-rights-council-saudi-arabia-supports-right-torture-execute-lgbt-
people/215528/

37
Walker, P. (2017, March 02). Two transgender Pakistanis 'tortured to death' in Saudi Arabia. Retrieved May 14, 2017, from
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/transgender-pakistani-saudi-arabia-tortured-death-amna-meeno-11-custody-
lgbt-rights-human-a7607446.html
 Bettencourt 30

information released regarding the deaths and the 22 transgender individuals still reportedly in

custody.

The government of Saudi Arabia, in contrast with South Africa, wields its legal power

against LGBTQ people in support of the homophobic and transphobic culture. Homosexuality

was not always met with intolerance in the Middle-East though. As a result of the segregation

between men and women within communities, heterosexual relationships had become harder to

initiate outside of marriage, and homosexual relationships were not uncommon.38 However,

through the prevailing influence of religious and traditional mores, LGBTQ people were deemed

as a foreign threat on Saudi Arabia's cultural standards, in spite of its historical context.

Case Study: Russia

Russia is an unusual example of LGBTQ discrimination since it breaks the pattern

formed by most homophobic and transphobic countries. Russia has no laws protecting the

LGBTQ community and has not yet legalized gay marriage. These types of regulations often

point to the influence of religion within the government, as is seen in Saudi Arabia. However, on

the scale of most devout countries, Russia ranks as one of the least religious ones on earth. This

doesnt mean religion has had no hand in the anti-gay sentiment built over time; Russia has had a

long history of orthodox religion and the Russian Orthodox Church has had undeniable influence

if comparatively small. The leading source of homophobia and transphobia however, is a

38
Klauda, G. (2010, December 8). Globalizing Homophobia. Retrieved May 29, 2017, from https://mronline.org/2010/12/08/globalizing-
homophobia/#_edn26
 Bettencourt 31

government capitalizing on illiberal sentiments39 as well as a history and culture rooted in beliefs

of nationalism and Western degeneracy. Over the years Russia has become an obstinate advocate

of their own moral authority as solely legitimate and homosexuality is viewed as just another

Western attack on their nations values.40

Homosexuality is not criminalised in Russia yet reports have shown that gay men in the

region of Chechnya are currently being held in concentration camp-style prisons that enforce

abusive treatment.41 It is said that over 100 have been detained in connection with their non-

traditional sexual orientation, or suspicion of such, but when demanded about it a Chechen

government spokesman denied that there are any gay people to detain, claiming that you cant

detain and harass someone who doesnt exist in the republic.42 LGBT activist Svetlana

Zakharova said Those who have escaped said they are detained in the same room and people are

kept altogether, around 30 or 40. They are tortured with electric currents and heavily beaten,

sometimes to death. 43 Tanya Lokshina of Human Rights Watch has also commented on the

issue:

It is difficult to overstate just how vulnerable LGBT people are in Chechnya, where

homophobia is intense and rampant. LGBT people are in danger not only of persecution

39
Khazan, O. (2013, June 12). Why Is Russia So Homophobic? Retrieved May 14, 2017, from
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/06/why-is-russia-so-homophobic/276817/

40
P. (2013, August 12). Understanding Russia's homophobia. Retrieved May 20, 2017, from http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/8/12/1228471/-
Understanding-Russia-s-homophobia

41
Duffy, N. (2017, April 10). Chechnya has opened concentration camps for gay men. Retrieved May 14, 2017, from
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/04/10/chechnya-has-opened-concentration-camps-for-gay-men/

42
Ibid
43
Ibid
 Bettencourt 32

by the authorities but also of falling victim to honour killings by their own relatives

for tarnishing family honour.

International Organizations

International organizations have provided a large impact in the global efforts to end

discrimination against the LGBTQ community. Some of the main groups that have made the

most successful contributions include the United Nations, Amnesty International, ILGA, the

NOH8 campaign, InterPride, and The Human Rights Campaign.

The United Nations, founded in 1945, is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to

promoting international co-operation. Currently, 193 Member States take part in its mission to

advocate for human rights. One of the many different world issues that they focus on is

defending and advancing the rights of the LGBTQ community. In 2013 the United Nations held

a meeting that started a new declaration by the Foreign Ministers pledging to protect LGBTQ

rights and also end homophobic behaviour. Public education campaigns were started afterwards

as a means to follow the guidelines of their declaration. UN Free & Equal is one of the global

public education campaigns created by the United Nations for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and

transgender equality. The campaign promotes respect for the rights of LGBTQ people

everywhere, and raises awareness of homophobic and transphobic violence and discrimination.

Amnesty International is a global movement that focuses on human rights. It has over

seven million members and supporters around the world campaigning for change and rights for

all. In defense of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex individuals Amnesty
 Bettencourt 33

International shines a light on rights abuses, calls for policy changes, and works to protect

LGBTQ human rights advocates. The organization also seeks to immediately release anyone

imprisoned solely because of homosexuality.

ILGA stands for International lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex association.

It is a worldwide federation made up of 1,200 member organisations from 125 countries. Since

1978 they have campaigned for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex rights. Their

vision is to create a world of equality and freedom where everyones rights are respected. They

work to establish global justice and assured equity regardless of sexual orientation, gender

identity, gender expression, or sex. In ILGAs mission they plan to act as a global voice for the

rights of those who face discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity

and/or gender expression and sex (intersex).44

The NOH8 Campaign is a charitable organization that uses education, advocacy, social

media, and visual protest to promote marriage, gender and human equality. The campaign,

created by celebrity photographer Adam Bouska and partner Jeff Parshley has over 55,000 faces

and continues to grow each day. NOH8 was inspired by the amendment to ban same-sex

marriage on November 4, 2008 in California. The visual protest aspect of their mission involves

taking pictures featuring subjects with NOH8 painted on their cheek, and duct tape over their

mouths to symbolize their voices being silenced. Although the campaign started with everyday

44
What we do. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://ilga.org/what-we-do/
 Bettencourt 34

Californians, it expanded globally to politicians, celebrities, artists, and any other individuals

who stood against discrimination and bullying of all kinds.

InterPride is the international organization that works to organize Pride events across the

globe. They have a large membership of dedicated volunteers who help empower Pride

organizations worldwide through events such as parades, marches, rallies, festivals, or any other

activities organized for members of the LGBTQ community. InterPrides vision is equality for

all culturally, socially, and legally.

The Human Rights Campaign is a LGBT civil rights advocacy group and political

lobbying organization, the largest in the United States. Their website offers resources for

LGBTQ people and informs visitors of their mission which is to advocate for equal rights, ensure

families are treated equally under law, and increase public support.

These organizations provide advocacy and education for the LGBTQ community across

national boundaries. They are effective at addressing discrimination through multiple avenues.

They often have the means and experience required to navigate political institutions in defense of

LGBTQ communities. Their public outreach campaigns, sometimes championed by celebrities,

can be powerful tools for addressing the cultural aspects of homophobia and transphobia.

International organizations are impactful agents in the global fight for LGBTQ rights.

Canadian Connection

On May 17th 2017, it was stated that a formal apology would be made by Prime Minister

Justin Trudeau to the members of the LGBTQ community in Canada who have suffered due to
 Bettencourt 35

their sexuality. Despite this achievement, Canada still has a long way to go regarding LGBTQ

equality and acceptance in its borders. Same-sex marriage was not legalized until 2005 and

Canadas closest and most influential neighbour, the U.S.A., only recently legalized same-sex

marriage in 2015. There are many factors that contribute to the discrimination in Canada: the

minimal bans on conversion camps, the lack of transgender recognition, the failure to culturally

recognize two-spirit identities within First Nations Communities, the difficulties surrounding

adoptions by gay couples, and the mental health of LGBTQ Canadians, especially Canadian

youth, and how they face higher risks for certain mental health issues.

The Gilbert Centre is a community-based, not-for-profit, charitable organization in the

Simcoe Muskoka area in Barrie, Ontario. They reflect the changes in HIV and also embrace the

expansion of programming to serve LGBT individuals and families. Jake Feldman, born in

Toronto in 1988, is the Family and Youth Programs Coordinator for this organization and runs

the LGBTQ youth groups in Barrie, Orillia, and Midland.

Jake Feldman

Why do you believe the discrimination of LGBTQ communities is a significant issue?

It is still happening. Particularly for those who are queer or trans and also deal with other

forms of oppression

In your opinion, why do so many people discriminate against or mistreat the LGBTQ

community?
 Bettencourt 36

I think that mostly people are taught to discriminate again and mistreat the LGBTQ

community. We live in a world that assumes that people are straight until proven otherwise and it

is seen as a bad thing to not be straight. It makes people in the LGBTQ community an easy

target. Also, I think that sexism overlaps for example, trans women are discriminated against

disproportionately more than trans men.

Why do you think the discrimination of the LGBTQ community is an issue in Canada still?

It is an issue because the life expectancy of trans women of colour is 35 years old on

average.

Since your organization has served as a strong focus on aiding and educating people about

HIV and AIDS, what role do you think HIV and AIDS has played in both the history and

the discrimination of the LGBTQ community?

There is a lot of stigma around people who are HIV positive and a lot of misinformation

about it. This is in part connected to the fact that it was seen as a gay disease in the 1980s. I

think that how Canada and the United States handled the AIDS crisis, where basically they didnt

handle it very well, is a demonstration of how discrimination of LGBTQ people was so

entrenched in the medical community.

What problems have you faced or witnessed in the LGBTQ community personally?

Mostly Ive seen a lot of discrimination around employment. People not getting jobs or

getting fired because they are trans, usually, but also queer sometimes.

What do you think is the biggest LGBTQ issue in Canada currently?

 Bettencourt 37

I think that the biggest LGBTQ issue is actually around the criminalization of sex work

and drug use as well as immigration laws. Many more marginalized people in the LGBTQ

community turn to sex work as a work option, and also the LGBTQ community is

disproportionately using drugs compared to the straight community. Therefore, when using drugs

is criminalized, it disproportionately affects the LGBTQ community. Also, many people need to

flee their countries of origin because of anti-lgbtq legislation or social values. Canada needs to

open its borders to accommodate people fleeing violence because they are LGBTQ.

Solutions

The first and largest steps for countries with homophobic and transphobic regulations is

to immediately decriminalize homosexuality then incorporate laws that prevent discrimination

and protect the LGBTQ community. In places like Canada and The United States there are still

governmental concerns that can be changed to ensure equality such as establishing gender

neutral washrooms in all public centres and incorporating safe sex education for LGBTQ people

in the curriculum. An emphasis of the separation between church and state should be made to

allow people to practice their religion without infringing upon other peoples rights.

Legislative protection is required but not sufficient, as seen in the South Africa case

study, so a true solution must also aim to change cultural attitudes. The media, therefore, has a

key role to play in solving the social components of discrimination. Media should be more

inclusive and positive towards the LGBTQ community by portraying more dimensional and
 Bettencourt 38

healthy relationships between LGBTQ people. In general, there should also be more

representation of LGBTQ people, especially LGBTQ people of colour.

In addition, Amnesty International USA has personally called upon states to:

Ensure that all allegations and reports of human rights violations based on sexual

orientation or gender identity are promptly and impartially investigated and perpetrators

held accountable and brought to justice;

Take all necessary legislative, administrative and other measures to prohibit and

eliminate prejudicial treatment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity at

every stage of the administration of justice;

And ensure adequate protection of human rights defenders at risk because of their work

on human rights and sexual orientation and gender identity.45

Solutions for LGBTQ discrimination must be as nuanced and complex as the reasons for

the discrimination. Successful solutions will meet both legislative and public perception needs.

These will be achieved by legal advocacy and media portrayal, but only if the agency of LGBTQ

people is protected so they may advocate and share their own stories.

45
About LGBT Human Rights. (n.d.). Retrieved March 10, 2017, from
http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/issues/lgbt-rights/about-lgbt-human-rights
 Bettencourt 39

Conclusion

The discrimination against the LGBTQ community directly infringes on the morals and

basic rights of humanity. It is clear to see that the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,

and queer individuals have not yet been universally recognised as human rights, those that must

be accessible to everyone regardless of sexuality or gender identity. Lack of knowledge about

LGBTQ issues only reinforces the disadvantages experienced by members of the LGBTQ

community and can be used as justification for violence against them. It is the duty of every

global citizen to take a look at their societys values and make sure they reflect standards of

acceptance, tolerance, love, and equality.

 Bettencourt 40

Appendix I: 46

George Catlin (1796-1872) Dance to the Berdache. Depicts a ceremonial dance to celebrate

the two-spirit person among the Sac and Fox Indians.

46
Transgender history. (2017, March 04). Retrieved March 10, 2017, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_history
 Bettencourt 41

Appendix II: 47

47
McCormick, J. P. (2015, February 12). This advice by Freud on how to cure a gay child might surprise you. Retrieved April 08, 2017, from

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/02/12/this-advice-by-freud-on-how-to-cure-a-gay-child-may-surprise-you/
 Bettencourt 42

Appendix III: 48

48
J. (2011, April 14). Pink Triangles at Dachau. Retrieved April 06, 2017, from http://queeringthecampus.blogspot.ca/2011/04/pink-triangles-at-
dachau-part-i.html
 Bettencourt 43

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