Supporting marginalized communities everyday and not just on special occasions
[Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 59 seconds.]
Most of the posts for Go Long to date have been around physical health, but today I am going to discuss a topic related to emotional health. Go Long is about inclusivity and helping people become better versions of themselves. Whatever that looks like to them.
Yes, it’s Pride Month, but recognizing members of the LGBTQ+ community and their struggles should be a daily occurrence and not limited to one month. Same for other races, religions and ethnicities.
The amount of vitriol and violence against LGBTQ+ people has increased by orders of magnitude over the past few years. It’s unacceptable to me, as a human and as an American.
Myths around the LGBTQ+ community
Currently much debate exists around the word ‘woke’. So I googled it. According to Merrian-Webster, it means:
“aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice)”
For the people who are using the term as an insult, what is wrong with being more educated about the struggles of others?
But since it is Pride month, I decided to post a video around 3 myths that are hurtful to the LGBTQ+ community. Unfortunately many more exist. It must be exhausting for LGBTQ+ people to constantly defend themselves against this kind of hate and bigotry.
The 3 myths I chose were:
Sexuality is a choice or can be taught
Many people believe that being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or otherwise is something a person chooses. There is no "reason" for a person's sexual orientation. People are born with certain predispositions, however, sexuality can also be fluid and evolve over time.
Trans people assault others in the bathroom
The fear of being assaulted by a trans person while using the bathroom is unfounded. If anything, the opposite is true. Trans people often fear the bathroom because of their increased likelihood of being bullied or assaulted if they do not "pass" (or if their physical appearance is not perceived to "match" their gender identity).
Bisexuality is just a phase
Even though bisexuals are represented within the LGBTQ+ acronym itself, their validity is often questioned. Commonly depicted as a transitional phase to being "fully" gay or lesbian, bisexuality is not always accepted by other LGBTQ+ people. However, according to the Human Rights Campaign, bisexual people made up the largest contingent of LGBTQ+ folks in the U.S. in 2021, representing 4% of U.S. adults.
I discussed all 3 in the video at the top. Also decided on the fly to add in that being trans is not a phase. Here’s the thing:
“Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It’s not pie.”
I don’t know who said that quote, but it’s true.
What do allies need to do more of?
I am a work-in-progress on this myself. The landscape continues to evolve as physical threats increase. It’s incumbent on me to keep up and understand the different struggles that LGBTQ+ people face on a daily basis. Literally as they go about their day-to-day lives.
Listening to queer people about the challenges they face is of the utmost importance. Only they can communicate the distress and issues they experience due to these myths, which seem to grow daily.
Allies should join forces against bigotry by protesting, raising awareness of LGBTQ+ issues, and speaking up in all settings. Professional or personal. Private or public. Be consistent in showing up for this community because they need and deserve the advocacy..
Finally being a true active voice for LGBTQ+ folks is about promoting their perspectives and concerns, as their voices are often downplayed or ignored (especially those of trans people).
Feeling safety and security is an integral part of a person’s mental and emotional well-being. Please do your part to try and to help others who could benefit from your allyship.