Discrimination and prejudice against LGBTIQ individuals in society

Homosexuality

Sexual orientation is the endurance of a personal quality which inclines people into having sexual or romantic attractions to people of; same sex, opposite sex or both sexes or even more than one gender. These attractions are categorized as heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality respectively. These categories form the aspects of the nature of an individual's sexual identity. In short, sexual orientation is an individual's sense of identity which is on the basis of the attractions they have, membership in a community and related behaviors of others who have similar attractions (McDermott, 2012).

Homosexuality is not a mental disorder; homosexual behaviors are in fact very normal aspects existing in human sexuality.

People, and in particular the young experience some disadvantages due to their sexual orientation. This includes mental health issues, homophobic bullying, being rejected friends and family. This discrimination and prejudice mainly targets sexual orientations termed as unacceptable by society including; gay, lesbians' bisexuals, transgender, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ). In society. GLBTIQ are faced with a lot of prejudice, discrimination and at times violence due to their sexual orientation. The youth who are open about their sexual orientation encounter discrimination and prejudice, being put down and disappointment from people they even do not know and those they love because of homophobia; the fear of sexuality. Another factor contributing to prejudice and discrimination is heterosexism (Gay Activism in the Schools, 2010). This is the belief that people who are not heterosexual are not normal and therefore they should be joked about, hated on and excluded from the rest of the society. Most of societies support heterosexism by not portraying gays, lesbians, homosexuals as not being normal people. For a long time now the GLBTIQ have been a target of negative attitudes by a large segment of the public in Australia being the worst among other. Openly gay, lesbian or bisexual teenagers often endure bullying, verbal abuse as well as social exclusion by their schoolmates (American Psychological Association, 2013).

The HIV / AIDS scourge is yet another aspect where discrimination and prejudice especially directed at the homosexuals people in the society has resulted in negative effects. During the stages and eras of the HIV / AIDS scourge, it was wrongly taken that the HIV / AIDS pandemic was predominantly and almost exclusively a homosexual disease. Bisexual and gay men have been affected inappropriately by this disease (Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, 2011).

Discrimination and prejudice have both social and personal impact. On a social level, discrimination and prejudice against gay, lesbians and bisexuals are portrayed in the stereotypes that exist of these groups. These stereotypes are in existence despite the fact that no evidence supports them. They are used as an excuse for treating these people unequally. On an individual level, such discrimination and prejudice has negative consequences particularly when the gays, lesbians or homosexuals are trying very much to deny or hide their sexual orientation (Gay Activism in the Schools, 2010).

Non-heterosexual people face a higher risk of dropping out of school, kicked from home and turning to street life for survival. Some of them end up engaging in substance abuse such as using alcohol, tobacco and other illegal drugs at a very early age. There is also a high likelihood of the nonheterosexual people to be sexually active, to have more than one partner and to have had a sexual experience unwillingly. This puts them at a high risk of STDs and especially HIV / AIDS. Youth who identify themselves as lesbians, gays and homosexuals who engage in sexual activities with people of the same sex or show they are romantically attracted to those of the same sex are more likely to contemplate suicide, abuse substances and be victimized. Reports suggest that 30% of youths who are same-sex attracted contemplate suicide (Sullivan, 2007). These suicide attempts and psychological problems in nonheterosexual people are not attributed to homosexuality itself but are significantly associated with stress, stigmatization, lack of support, discrimination and prejudice and substance abuse.

Changing perspective over homosexuals

However, over the years there have been changing perspectives about the sexual orientation and homosexuals have received both public, social and even legal support on their endeavor to live normal lives like any other sexual orientation. The concept of legalizing same sex or homosexual marriages has been in the public domain for long now. Despite the amount of debate and research dedicated to this topic, there hasn't come up enough evidence and reason to convince the American general public as to why it should be allowed so far hence a number of challenges still exists, however, it is prudent to take stock of the progress so far.

From historical time, till 2004 same-sex marriage was not allowed in any state and there was no legal recognition of the weddings between them. Till now, there are six states in the U.S.A. that treat gay marriages as legal and they are allowed to legally wed. These are Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire and most recently District of Columbia and the numbers could be on the increase (The PEW Charitable Trusts, 2010). Despite these strides from 2004, the U.S.A. is still widely divided over the issue of marriage as traditionally and conventionally defined and whether to redefine marriage in the entire USA to be palatable to the contemporary happenings and trends within the society.

There are around 30 states that still prohibit same sex marriage, yet another two states allow civil union between two people of the same sex, some six states allow these couples to register as domestic partners and the trend is expected to keep shifting with time.

In California there is still a wide controversy over the state of the gay marriage since there have been legal steps that have made it hard to determine which way is the preferred one for the majority of the Californians. On May 15, 2008 the California Supreme Court ruled that it was the right of same-sex couples to marry in California if they so wished to. Later on, this decision was followed by the Proposition 8 that amended the saw the amendment of the California Constitution so as to define marriage as between one man and one woman and this was passed on November 4, 2008. However, almost two years down the line, a federal district judge that the ban on the same-sex marriage that was occasioned by the Proposition 8 was unconstitutional and violated the equal protection provision of the constitution of the U.S.A. The enforcement of this decision has however been stayed pending an appeal already in court. It is however worth noting that the same-sex marriages that were finalized before the passing of Proposition 8 remain valid.

Conclusion

Apparently the issues of homosexuality and the homosexual marriages or relationships involving sex are here to stay and with the observed trends, they are on the increase each day. The negative effects of discrimination and stigmatization of these sexual orientations and sexuality are evident and on the increase as the society grows. There is need hence to get into terms and touch with the realities of the contemporary society and embrace the factual happenings on a progressive trend. This then calls for roper treatment of homosexuals like any other American and global citizens instead of constantly segregating against them and in the end perpetuating the negatives that come with the stigma.