Shormita tells us that there is racism within the marginalised LGBTQIA+ community. An exclusive for Different Truths.

The people who belong to the LGBTQIA+ community face harsh discrimination in society. They do not get equal respect, value, and importance. It is important to discuss the other aftermath, which is not even known to society. This community has to face discrimination within its own community as well. There exists a hierarchy, which creates discrimination among their own people.

In the United States, the minority of LGBTQIA+ people are doubly suppressed by the White LGBTQIA+ people. There exists discrimination among queer individuals because of their colour and creed. It is significant to understand Minority Stress Theory. This theory explains, ‘historical and current prejudice and discrimination lead many U.S. minority groups to experience a high level of baseline stress. This is called Minority Stress Theory.’(McConnell) This theory illustrates that a high level of mental torture and stigma leads to stress and depression among LGBTQIA+ people.

 The Black people who identified themselves as people who belong to the LGBTQIA+ community faced multiple levels of discrimination and they were victimised at every phase of their lives. The issue of racism is not recent in the United States; it was there for many centuries. The Blacks were always meant to serve their White masters and it continued till the present time within the LGBTQIA+ community. This community may face a number of issues like anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation.

A study on Asian Americans and Pacific Islands Americans conducted by National Gay and Lesbian Task Force on LGBTQIA+ people says that, around 82% interviewed have faced racism from the White people of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Lesbian women mostly considered as a ‘triple minority’. The reason is that firstly they are women, which means suppressed gender. Secondly, other women do not consider them equal for their gender orientation. Thirdly, Black lesbian women have to face racial criticism for their colour in society. Thus, it is exceedingly difficult to determine the issues faced by a woman, especially by a lesbian woman. 

The journey is not easy for transwomen or transsexuals either. From a very tender age, a trans child has to face difficulty in order to understand their gender orientation. They suffer from mental dilemmas, depression, and anxiety, as they are unable to realize the changes happening inside their body. The hormonal imbalance in their body and the quest to search for their real gender identity are quite complex for them and bumpy too. For instance, in Arab, the Mizrahi Jews and Arab Jews faced discrimination by the Ashkenazi LGBTQIA+ community.

It has been seen that there is much difference in the rights of Black gays and White gays. In comparison to White gays, Black gays experience negative responses for their sexual orientation. (Icard) Often it has been observed that Black gays may be given jobs like waiters, chefs, chauffeurs, or domestic helpers. In the gay community, Black gays are considered as ‘inferior’. (Icard)

Commonly, homosexuality is considered to be a ‘mental illness.’ So, homosexuals receive rejection or non-acceptance by their family, relatives, and peers, which results in, high level of depression, mental stress, and loneliness. Thus, generally, the adolescents may get confused about their gender orientation and which leads to suicidal thoughts.

Works Cited

·         Bridges. Selvidge, et. al., ‘Lesbian Women of Color: Therapeutic Issues and Challenges.’ Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development 31(2): 1^st April, 2003.

·         en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism in the LGBT community

·         Icard, Larry. ‘Black Gay Men and Conflicting Social Identities: Sexual Orientation Versus Racial Identity.’ Social Work Practice in Sexual Problems. Ed by. James Gripton and Mary Valentich. The Haworth Press: New York, 1986. Pp 83-90.

·         McConnell, Elizabeth. ‘People of Color Experience Discrimination Within LGBT Spaces.’ Community Psychology. Retrieved on 14^th March, 2021.

·         “Study on Asian Pacific American LGBT People Reveals High Rates of Discrimination.” New American Media. Retrieved on 30^th August, 2012.

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Shormita Bose

Shormita Bose, is pursuing PhD in English literature from GLA University, Mathura. She has completed her M.A. & B.A. from University of Allahabad. She has contributed her research article in the edited book- Human Rights: Issues, Challenges and Present Status and also written an article in the anthology -Words That Stay Forever. Currently, she is working on her own edited book- Women and Queers: The Marginalized Gender.

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