In recent years, our community has taken several steps towards promoting LGBTQ rights. The awareness of LGBTQ issues has significantly increased as reflected by community efforts towards ensuring that there is inclusivity and respect of all gender orientations in different community aspects like access to healthcare services. However, despite the progress towards inclusivity, there are many challenges that have hindered the eradication of the stigma surrounding LGBTQ rights. There are religious and cultural obstacles that obstruct the full realization of LGBTQ rights in the community.
All gender restrooms
As Coyote (2015) explains, having a safe place to pee is a fundamental human right. After realizing the need to support transgender people, our community has made efforts to integrate gender-neutral washrooms at different locations. Most restaurants in my neighborhood have accommodated transgender people by providing gender-neutral washrooms. Furthermore, some schools in the community have also provided gender-neutral washrooms for people of different gender orientations. In addition to providing gender-neutral washrooms, businesses, and other institutions have ensured that the washrooms are well-marked, including posters that notify visitors that such facilities are available on their premises. The provision of gender-neutral washrooms in the community demonstrates the community’s commitment to ensuring that transgender people are safe and are encouraged to embrace their gender identities without fear. Just like Graham (2016) asserts, once a community understands that providing gender-neutral washrooms is part of ensuring that special groups like transgender are not alienated, it is likely to support the initiative. Our community values equal treatment of people and, therefore, did not have a problem with supporting the needs of transgender people.
Healthcare Access
Our community also supports local health organizations that offer specialized services to members of the LGBTQ community. Community members are involved in fundraising to support the health organizations to acquire more resources and support the unique needs of the LGBTQ community. Furthermore, healthcare professionals like nurses and social workers within the community volunteer to offer services and support LGBTQ health-specialized organizations. On the other hand, local businesses and institutions like schools raise awareness about the location and health services that LGBTQ health organizations offer. Apart from the specialized LGBTQ health organizations, the community leadership has ensured that all hospitals in the neighborhood maintain inclusivity of LGBTQ members in different aspects of healthcare delivery. Most hospitals and clinics in the neighborhood have hired staff from the LGBTQ community.The gender diversity makes it easier for them to respond to the unique needs of LGBTQ patients as well as ensuring that all patients, irrespective of their gender identity, feel comfortable to seek healthcare services.
Pride Parades and Events
Our community has also embraced pride parades as a way of fighting the stigma that affects LGBTQ members. During summer, the community leaders help the LGBTQ members organize pride parades and mobilize a significant number of community members to participate. The community also works together to support LGBTQ members for their pride events by donating pride flags and clothing. The pride events have gained popularity within our community, and non-LGBTQ members of the community have been participating during the pride events by marching together with the LGBTQ community. Furthermore, community members also help to popularize the events through social media, and the events have been attracting people from different parts of the country. The pride events are the community’s method of fighting homophobia and transphobia. As the Canadian Mental Health Association (n.d) elucidates, transphobia and homophobia impact mental health and therefore the pride events play a critical role in raising awareness in the community and protect LGBTQ people in the community.
Challenges and Areas Requiring Improvement
Although our community has made significant progress in recognizing the rights of the marginalized LGBTQ community, some areas require improvement. One area that requires improvement and remains a challenge is convincing the religious fraternity in the community to fully embrace the rights of people who identify as gay, lesbian, and transgender. As CBC News (2015) explains, some major churches across Canada have endorsed same-sex marriages. However, most churches in my community have resisted same-sex marriages. Furthermore, despite having all-gender restrooms in most premises across the neighborhood, they are rarely found in the local churches. Furthermore, some preachers within the community are opposed to LGBTQ rights and preach against embracing same-sex marriages. Some traditional churches within the community insist that religious texts state that same-sex relationships are sinful and have contributed to their followers limiting interaction with LGBTQ members.
Despite the community having pride parades to fight stigma against LGBTQ people and encourage diversity, there have been minor incidents of harassment. There are cases where gay students have been teased and abused by their fellow students due to their sexual orientation. In some schools that do not have all-gender washrooms, other students normally harass transgender students, and they usually avoid going to the washrooms when the other students are around. Some businesses within the neighborhood have also refused to provide all-gender washrooms, which points out their reluctance to embrace the rights of transgender customers. Some community members also write negative posts about pride events on social media, which indicates that not everyone in the community has embraced the rights of sexually diverse community members. There is a need for more effort to raise awareness about LGBTQ rights and eradicate the stigma.
Finally, there is an opportunity for my community to increase the number of LGBTQ employees in the local businesses. LGBTQ community members have a right to seek employment anywhere, considering that the law recognizes their rights to serve, even in critical institutions like the military. Local businesses should consider deliberate hiring of employees who identify as LGBTQ as a way of promoting their integration into the community and promoting diversity and avoid a situation where gay and lesbian people fear seeking employment (CBC News, 2020). Just like hiring LGBTQ representatives in healthcare, including them in local businesses has the potential of reducing stigma and offering equal opportunities. Businesses should also work towards ensuring that they create safe spaces for LGBTQ employees and customers.
Conclusion
Our community has undoubtedly made commendable strides in promoting LGBTQ rights and fostering inclusivity. The establishment of gender-neutral washrooms across various locations, support for LGBTQ-specific healthcare services, and enthusiastic participation in pride events exemplify our dedication to equality and acceptance. These efforts reflect a community ethos that values diversity and strives to create a safe and supportive environment for all individuals regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. However, challenges persist, particularly in addressing religious and cultural barriers that hinder the full acceptance and integration of LGBTQ individuals. Incidents of harassment and discrimination, both in educational settings and public spaces, underscore the ongoing need for advocacy and education to combat prejudice and foster understanding. There is an opportunity for further progress, such as increasing LGBTQ representation in local businesses and ensuring the creation of safe spaces for employees and customers alike.
References
Canadian Mental Health Association (n.d).Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans & Queer identified People and Mental Health.https://ontario.cmha.ca/documents/lesbian-gay-bisexual-trans-queer-identified-people-and-mental-health/
CBC News (2015).Same-sex rights in Canada.CBC News.https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/timeline-same-sex-rights-in-canada-1.1147516
CBC News (2020).Half of LGBTQ people surveyed hide sexuality at work in Sudbury, Windsor.CBC News.https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/lgbtq-workplace-research-1.5652057
Coyote, I.(2015,November 2015).We all need a safe place to pee [Video].You Tube.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUKAVcj9NVA
Graham, J.(2016).All-gender washroom a big sign of inclusion in these Canadian schools.https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/all-gender-washroom-a-big-step-toward-inclusion-for-these-canadian-schools/article33462989/
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