Discrimination against bisexuals within gay communities

Discrimination LGBT

Discrimination amongst the Discriminated Against

The fight for civil liberties for people of color has existed as a part of American culture since its founding. Subsequent to 400 years of chattel slavery and several decades of racial segregation, the civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. According to this historical legislation, discrimination was banned based on "race, color, religion, or national origin" (Goluboff, 2007). Shortly after the Civil Rights Act was enacted into legislation, women were given the right to vote; which served to theoretically and politically address gender discrimination in the United States. According to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, June 4, 1919, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex" (19th Amendment, 1919). Although some forms of legislation have been passed to address the protection of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) community, more times than not, acts of discrimination against members of this group are classified under domestic violence legislation, equal employment legislation, or under the Hate Crimes Bill (Jenness, 2007).

Most recently, the scholarly literature has reflected the phenomenon within the (LGBT) of discrimination between groups based on race, gender, and 'homosexual classification -- gays discriminating against bisexuals, socioeconomic class divisions, etc. Whereas before there was a clear line of demarcation with discrimination from the larger heterosexual community against those persons in the homosexual community. Now, it appears there is discrimination amongst those who have been discriminated against; and not just in the United States.

Peter Morgan in his article "Class Divisions in the Gay Community" describes a two fold process occur outside of and within the gay community. According to Morgan, there has been increased commentary in the media arguing the end of gay oppression as it has been in the past; suggesting that the United States and other westernized countries glamorize being gay, more gay characters on popular television shows, the media treating gay issues with seriousness, and many celebrities coming out (web). John Rauch, in his book "Beyond Oppression in the New Republic" echoes a similar perspective;

As more and more homosexuals come out of hiding, the reality of gay economic and political and educational achievements becomes more evident. And as that happens, gay people who insist they are oppressed will increasingly, and not always unfairly, come off as yuppie whiners, "victims" with $50,000 incomes and vacations in Europe.

They may feel they are oppressed, but they will have a harder and harder time convincing the public (18).

There appears to be a disconnect within the gay community, and class discrimination as a result, due to the recognized political and economic power that many have, versus those in the LGBT community who do not represent the same socioeconomic class. The question raised is two fold: How can someone with money, power, and influence within and outside of the LGBT community be considered oppressed? And secondly, "Are we (within the community) fighting for the same protections? (Employment, marriage, insurance, politics, race, etc.). The issue of class separation within the LGBT community is frequently one that incorporates the issues of racial discrimination within the group as well. Those who have been identified and socioeconomically and politically empowered are frequently White.

Therefore, the 'representation' from within the group when it comes to fighting for particular protections and causes if launched by the economically and politically empowered is positioned from a White perspective (Han, 2007). Morgan purports that compared to the gay and lesbian fight of the 1960's, when there was solidarity of the exploited and oppressed, the current LGBT community is fragmented and fragmenting over this and other issues. Moreover, Morgan posits that the history of gay oppression is intrinsically tied to the history of socialism and class struggle. Kollontai suggests, "class interests divide the oppressed -- and working class gays have more to gain fighting alongside other working class people than they do from uniting with ruling class sections of the gay community who have a completely different agenda" (59).

Another area of discrimination within the LGBT community is with regard to the transgendered subset vs. The larger gay community. Societal oppression against transgendered individuals has been documented in the scholarly literature for some time now (Carroll, Gilroy, & Ryan, 2002; Lev, 2004; Pepper and Lorah, 2008). However, even within the generally defined group labeled transgendered, there are subgroup: MTF, transitioning from male to female; FTM, transitioning from female to male; transsexual, enlisting surgical procedures and/or hormones; and genderqueer, not identifying with either label of male or female (Singh, Hays, & Watson, 2009). However, despite gender diversification within the transgender community, group members continue to face transphobia and transprejudice because of a lack of understanding, knowledge and acceptance (Singh, Boyd, & Whitman, 2010).