LGBTQ people face unique challenges every day because of their sexual orientation. They are continually discriminated against and harassed because of social stereotypes and people favoring heterosexuals over them. The most common statements directed at them are how it feels like to be gay if they can be in monogamous relationships or assumptions about their orientation, such as a lesbian being regarded as transgender. While such statements may appear like common beliefs, they are stereotyping and may harm the groups they are directed at. Over the years, as the number of LGBTQ populations has risen globally, there has also been an increase in mental health challenges among them, characterized by depression, substance abuse, and suicide rates. Hence, it is crucial to understand the LGBTQ community to determine ways in which to avoid the stereotypes and aid in helping them enjoy similar benefits as heterosexuals.
LGBTQ Rights in Nigeria and the US
As human rights activists globally advocate for equal rights regardless of gender, the LGBTQ community continues to experience high hostility rates in some countries, the most common being Nigeria. LGBTQ persons lack legal support in the country and are under constant victimization. Nigeria is under the zone 3 category classification, whereby same-gender sexual activities are prohibited. They face challenges such as freedom of expression in their family and same-sex relationships, equality and employment, and gender identity (Sogunro, 2020). For example, while sections 39 and 40 in the constitution protect the people’s rights to express themselves, assemble, and associate freely, the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act of 2013 restricts the rights of LGBTQ people in Nigeria. The act criminalizes the existence of gay societies, organizations, and clubs, with the penalty being ten years imprisonment. Similarly, they are not allowed to publicly display their sexuality through actions, directly or indirectly, with the punishment being ten years imprisonment.
Furthermore, spousal cohabitation, sexual acts, and relationships among same-sex gender are criminal offenses in Nigeria, punishable with up to 14 years in prison. Also, same-sex marriage or civil union certificates issued in Nigeria are invalid, and LGBTQ couples have no legal rights to adopt children jointly or through the second-parent adoption process because they do not possess marriage certificates, which are the primary requirement for adoption. Moreover, the law does not permit transgender people to change their gender and name legally, and being trans is a criminal offense in Bauchi state. Since same-sex relationships are prohibited in Nigeria, it is also highly unlikely that the people would receive dependent visas.
On the contrary, LGBTQ populations in America have experienced progress in the fight for their rights, with all 50 states considering same-sex marriage legal, including the District of Colombia, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. The US Supreme Court also recognized sexual relationships among consenting adults as being constitutionally acceptable, and that same-sex couples have the right to marry (Carpenter et al., 2021). Today, many Americans live in jurisdictions where their sexual orientation and gender identity are protected. For example, in 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that Title VII, the national statute that barred sexual discrimination in the workplace, would also cover gender identity and sexual orientation discrimination. The developments in their civil rights have made LGBTQ communities more successful than any other group experiencing struggles in their civil rights, indicating significant differences with Nigeria.
Interview with an LGBTQ community member
The interview was conducted on a 27-year-old American man sexually identifying as gay. Initially, the subject did not want to reveal their sexual identity as a gay man and was uncomfortable during the initial phase of the interview. His non-verbal cues were worry and nervousness, making him reluctant to answer questions about his experiences. However, after reassuring him that a mutual friend was the reason I contacted him for the interview, he was more welcoming and cooperative. During the interview, I detected sadness in his tone and the nature by which he answered the questions, which resembled a person whose life was miserable. Upon asking him to tell me about his experiences as a gay man, he responded that it had not been an easy experience, especially during his college years. He experienced much homophobia, primarily unfair beliefs, such as people regarding him as being mentally unstable or genetically challenged because of his identity. Also, after learning that he was gay, many of the male friends he had acquired would avoid him and accuse him of making unwanted sexual advances.
Additionally, he explained that he discovered his identity in high school during a seminar where the speaker addressed different forms of sexual identity. Having been an outspoken student leader, he revealed his sexual identity, and it was a negative turning point in his life. The school administration considered him a bad example to his peers and took away his leadership. He was also bullied and harassed for the rest of the school year. He narrated feeling lost and alone in high school because there was no one he could relate with and talk to about his experiences, leaving him withdrawn. His relationship with his father changed after revealing his identity because he could not accept him. Having endured hardships in high school and throughout college, the subject answered that the characteristics of being gay were acceptance, rejection of stereotypes, self-care, and activism. He responded that he lived with the daily awareness that he was different, and since society would not accept him fully, he would accept himself, live a positive life, and fight for his rights. When I asked him about a painful experience he had had as a gay man, he sadly narrated that he lost the opportunity for a well-paying job because of his sexual identity. In college, he secured a summer job that would potentially help him clear his student debt. However, a fellow student told the supervisor that he was gay. The interviewee was summoned to the office, and the supervisor apologized for hiring him, accusing him of potentially becoming a bad influence and giving the company a negative reputation. When I asked him about his message for people regarding being a member of the LGBTQ community, he insisted that he was not different because of his sexual orientation, that he has the same abilities as his peers, academic prowess, a friendly personality, and is hardworking. He claimed that people should not be defined by their sexual orientation but by the behavior they present about themselves.
Personal Reflection
Previously, I had not interacted with a gay person or any member of the LGBTQ community whatsoever. I was under the impression that gay men behave differently due to the stereotypes presented in the film, such as dressing differently from men and speaking in a different tone. However, after interacting with the interviewee, my perception of the LGBTQ community changed because I realized that, while his sexual identity was different, he had traits that made him intelligent, reasonable, resilient, and industrious. The interview shed light on the injustices that LGBTQ people experience that they do not deserve. First, I understood that they do not become gay or transgender out of choice. Instead, it is a form of identity within them that directs their sexuality, leading to them being different from heterosexuals. Hence, society is unjust by favoring heterosexuals over them because their orientation does not limit their capabilities. Similarly, it is unfair that their sexual identity sums up their character, leading to society disregarding the other qualities that people do not immediately see, such as kindness and intelligence. Such thoughts present a narrow-minded, discriminative society that makes life impossible for the LGBTQ community. For this reason, they have higher suicide rates, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, consequently increasing their mortality rates. By discriminating against them, people who consider themselves superior due to their sexual identity inadvertently sign others’ death sentences by denying them jobs and life opportunities.
Overall, the LGBTQ community comprises a marginalized group in society, discriminated against because of their sexual identity. They face rejection, ridicule, and discrimination, affecting their lives in the long term, primarily in countries where their rights are denied, such as Nigeria. The key to ending stereotypes among the LGBTQ community is keeping an open mind and ignoring the prejudices that people form due to their past experiences. Society should make room for differences in character, choices, and lifestyle, listen to others, and understand them more deeply. It is also necessary to spread the word about the negative effects of stereotyping, including death and long-term, preventable psychological issues.
References
Carpenter, C. S., Eppink, S. T., Gonzales, G., & McKay, T. (2021). Effects of access to legal same‐sex marriage on marriage and health. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 40(2), 376–411.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/pam.22286
Sogunro, A. O. (2020). Advocacy, Social Control, and the Criminalisation of Samesex Relationships: The Evolution and Enforcement of ‘Antigay Laws’ in Nigeria (Doctoral dissertation, University of Pretoria (South Africa)).https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/78375/Sogunro_Advocacy_2020.pdf?sequence=1
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