Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer

Purpose of the Research

The paper will explore and examine issues relating to LGBTQ and come up with newfound knowledge by providing relevant information on the topic. The research is necessary as it will provide different stands of the society about the issue. Although more inquiry has been made on the subject, the piece attempts to give the reader a broader perspective on the issue; the judgment decision lies with the reader on the stand they are going to take on this matter.

Though studies have been done on this subject, this paper aims at improving on the previously conducted inquiries by providing additional information on the theme. The study will also analyze the common issues that affect public on the question of LGBTQ and provide answers.

Review of LGBTQ

LGBTQ is a widely accepted acronym for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer. The term is at times referred to as a rainbow community, or other people refer to it as queer community. A lesbian is a female who express sexual attraction to another woman whereas a gay is a male homosexual or who expresses homosexual traits. On the other hand, Bisexual refers to sexual attraction behavior toward both females and males. It can also mean allure to people of any sex. Transgender is a description for people whose gender identity differs from what has initially related the sex they were assigned at birth. Mainly is a term used for individuals who are non-heterosexual. LGBTQ has various effects on the lives of people and the society as a whole, and they include an adverse impact on marriage laws; effects on housing and health, employment discrimination, and many others related social problems.

Effect of LGBT on Marriage

The homosexual relationship has both positive and negative implications in the society. In the debate on LGBT, there are two positions. These are the conservatives and the liberalists. Conservatives are against legalizing of this matter whereas liberalism proposes that the subject is okay and that it does not have negative implications for the society. Conservatives hold on that LGBT has adverse consequences for the society and that they should not be legalized due to the following reasons: They maintain that LGBT should be termed illegal since gays and lesbianism erode the meaning of marriage in the society. They hold that matrimony was meant for people of different sex and that through it procreation is possible. Benjamin w. Bull, chief counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, believes that gays and lesbians will violate traditional and family values. Conventionally, the family was made of man and wife and children.

The conservationist hold on that homosexuality is against God’s laws and that it is unnatural. Taking consideration on the main religion in the world, they find that they all speak against this vice to be demonic. The Christian Bible reaffirms this stand. The reasoning is based on the biblical stories of creation that during creation, God made Adam, a male human being, and an Eve, a female person, He ordered them to procreate and fill the earth.

They argue that lesbianism, gays, and bisexuality pose a threat to the future of the human race. The belief is grounded on the fact that the future if human race depends on the heterosexual relationship.

The other consequence of same-sex marriage is that it denies a child of either having a father or mother. Every kid needs to have both the parents. The argument is based on the evident challenges faced by children who are orphans or who were raised by relatives or a single parent. A youngster of the same sex marriage will always be denied his right of enjoying the role played by the full set of parenting. In such a situation he/she will end up having one parent.

The conservatives embrace the view that same-sex marriage does not create a family, which naturally, is made up of a dad, mom, and offspring. And this type of household only comes from a heterosexual marriage. They believe that same-gender marriage only leads to a sterile relationship, which cannot produce children. Also, Homosexuality may lead to childhood molestation. It affects the child psychologically and health wise and may lead to the child having the scar of the effects all his/her lifetime.

LGBT can also result in a massive violation of human rights. It happens in the event of a gay person physically abuse another person. In this case, the abused may end up contracting infections such as HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. For example, it has been witnessed that their teachers abuse many school children for having homosexual relationships. Such practices have an adverse impact to the abused as most may end up viewing family life as not important and necessary (Mayfield, May, Nanez, Tillery, Winer, Ball, & Crandall,2016).

Homosexual practices may lead to increase in pedophilia. It is the sexual feeling for children in an adult. The act affects the future of the children in the family and the society as a whole. It also believes that homosexuals cause more violence than heterosexual. As a result of this, gays lead to a violation of societal laws.

Conservationists suggest that teenagers raised by homosexuals are more expected to experience sexual and gender disorders. The suggestion was made by a sociologist, Judith Stacey who established the following, “lesbian child-care might free daughters besides sons from an extensive nonetheless uneven array of customary gender recommendations.” It shows that children of lesbians are less mannish and their daughters are more masculine (Mayfield, May, Nanez, Tillery, Winer, Ball, & Crandall,2016). It is also argued that the threat of the same-sex matrimonial poses to marriage is that it may lower the levels of sexual fidelity in marriage. A recent study shows that only about fifty percent of gay men in civil union’s valued sexual fidelity and that more than seventy-nine percent of heterosexuals married women and men appreciated fidelity.

Allowing same homosexual marriage makes the state become an active promoter. The state will pass laws in favor of LGBT, order schools to teach on same-sex marriage, and punishes any citizen who goes against the state regulations and ethical obligations. In such a situation, same-sex marriage imposes its acceptance on society.

LGBT lowers parental commitment. Parents are expected to cater for the basic need soft their children, and in the event of a divorce, most parents make their decisions in consideration to the future life of their children’s, and that at times they look for alternatives for devotions just for the sake of their children. However, it is feared that same-sex marriage will destabilize the norm that parents should sacrifice to stay in a relationship in the interests of their children. In the view of family, same-sex marriage, promote the homosexual lifestyle. Therefore, recognizing same-sex marriage will lead to obscure of particular moral values and weakening of public morality.

LGBT lowers parental commitment. Parents are expected to cater for the basic need soft their children, and in the event of a divorce, most paternities make their decisions in consideration to the future life of their children’s, and that at times they look for alternatives for devotions just for the sake of their children. However, it is feared that same-sex marriage will destabilize the norm that parentages should sacrifice to stay in a relationship in the interests of their children. Conservatives are afraid that legalizing same-sex marriage will turn a moral wrong into a civil right. They hold that unchangeable racial traits cannot be compared to impulsive behaviors; therefore, there is no connection between the marriage of individuals of different race and that of people of the same sex.

Among the main reason why the state bestows much respect and benefits on marriage is that it provides a conducive environment for the bearing of children. However, same-sex marriage does not provide such conditions hence; it defeats the purpose of the country in supporting and benefiting the marriage.

Libertarian Perspective on LGBT

Liberalists support LGBT, and they hold that the subject on gay, lesbian, bisexual plus transgender should be legalized based on the following basis. They maintain on to the view that very individual has a right to choose a person they wish to marry and that they do not have to be of different sex. They also argue that homosexuals possess the same ability, desire and potential to love and have a lasting relationship. They are against the argument by the conservationist that homosexuals are not capable of providing the expected love to their partners as compared to heterosexuals (Aragon, Poteat, Espelage, & Koenig,2014.

The liberals also hold a view that condemning same-sex relationships is harmful to the LGBT community. They argue that discriminating people by their sexual orientation unlawful and that every individual has every right to himself and that they can do whatever please them as long as it won’t infringe other people`s rights (principle of individual autonomy)

The liberals argue that marriage is the union of persons who love each other. Therefore, gays, lesbianism, transgender and bisexual should be legal to ensure that there is an equal right for everyone and that one group`s right should not be violated. They believe that every individual regardless of their sexual orientation has the right to marry. Denying gays and lesbians from marrying denies them their civil rights.

There is a need to focus on this issue as it is a broad subject that needs extensive research. Some of the areas which need to address on this topic include intermarriage of LGBT couples of a different nationality, the history of lesbian and gay. Where did it come from/ or how did it come into existence? Also, much research is needed to provide an answer to the question of political movement’s relation to LBBTQ. Triggering a lifetime of economic and social instability. In all too many instances, even LGBT youth with supportive families find themselves living outside of a family home due to familial rejection or deportation. Moreover, schools can also play a critical role in pushing youth onto the streets, from hostile school climates that leave LGBT youth feeling unsafe

Impact of the Study upon LGBT Healthcare

Based on the study of the effect of LGBT on family and marriage, there is also a concern for the health care of LGBT. The research shows the importance of improving coverage and access to care for this community. Sexual and gender minorities experience worse physical and mental health outcomes and face unique health challenges compared to their heterosexual counterparts. These effects include mental illness, drug and substance abuse, a higher prevalence of HIV infection and other health conditions. The outcome of HIV infection among members of LGBT community is alarming, with gay and bisexual men accounting for two-thirds of new HIV infections, and studies reporting that more than one in four (28%) transgender women are infected. (HIV Surveillance Report, 2015) According to the inquiry, LGBT individuals face some challenges when trying to get health services, including poor treatment by the providers, barriers to obtaining insurance coverage among other dares.

Recommendations

I believe that building the evidence based on LGBT health issue; the primary recommendation is for an extensive research ought to be conducted to assist the medical practitioners and health care providers in advancing and promoting their efforts on the LGBT health care. Furthermore, there is a need in promoting the progress on LGBT issue, mainly in preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation. Also, more efforts need to be done in addressing the issues on intermarriage of LGBT couples of a different nationality, the history of lesbian and gay, where it come from. Also, much research is needed to provide an answer to the question of political movement’s relation to LGBT.I believe from the above studies and findings that homosexual relationship has both positive and negative implications in the society. In the debate on LGBT, there are two positions. These are the conservatives and the liberalists. Conservatives who basically against legalizing of this matter should come out and offer formidable solutions instead of cursing and condemning the act that has many people engage in it.

Whereas liberalism holding that the subject is okay and that it does not have negative implications for the society should answer the question on the causes and possible consequences and effects of such practices. Conservatives hold on that LGBT has adverse implications for the society and that they should not be legalized due to the following reasons: They maintain that LGBT should be termed illegal since gays and lesbianism erode the meaning of marriage in the society. They hold that matrimony was meant for people of different sex and that through it procreation is possible. Benjamin w. Bull, chief counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, believes that gays and lesbians will violate traditional and family values. Conventionally, the family was made of man and wife and children. The research has been necessary as it has given the different general stands of the society about the issue (Knight, Shoveller, Carson, & Contreras-Whitney, 2014). Although more inquiry needs to be made on the subject, the piece attempts to give the reader a broader perspective on the issue; the judgment decision lies with the reader on the stand they are going to take on this matter. Though studies have been done on this subject, this paper has also improved on the previously conducted inquiries by providing additional information on the theme.

A lot of scientific inquiries need to be vested in this area to answer the question and issues raised by the conservatives. For instance, there should be analysis on what exactly causes these problems. Are such complications correctable or rectified? What exactly do these people in this set feel? However, at the moment, we ought to have accommodative laws and regulations that will guard both homosexuals and heterosexual against physical, mental or social harm (Knight, Shoveller, Carson, & Contreras-Whitney, 2014).

The Struggle for Transgender Rights

As society begins to gradually accept the civil rights of the queer community, such as marriage equality and protective laws, the movement for transgender rights is becoming more of an issue, although much greater progress is still required. In the modern world of gender roles and binaries, being denoted simply as “other” has led to common problems for the transgender community, such as workplace discrimination, lack of recognition in schools, exclusion from gender specific sports, and interacting with intolerance on a daily basis. Combined these factors work to demean any person who does not fall within the strict limits of the cisgender binary complex. Traditional values have left others who do not belong behind and struggling to survive. The drive for basic liberties is an important one, because it means a difference of life and death and can also allow people who have been excluded from society for most of its past, to be welcomed in a new age. The rights of transgender people in modern society have been neglected, and the people themselves demeaned, leading to an oppressed group of people who must search for their identity and simultaneously strive for their basic civil rights.

Queer people in the workforce, especially those who are transgender, experience a much greater deal of discrimination than their cisgender counterparts. It is currently legal in thirty two states to fire workers for being transgender (Malone). Another historic right was taken away last week as Kansas Governor Brownback signed an executive order rescinding protective rights for LGBTQ state employees. This move was viewed by Tom Witt, director of Equality Kansas as“’…an outrage. Gay, lesbian, and transgender state employees across Kansas have trusted they would be safe from discrimination and harassment in their workplace but Sam Brownback has, by erasing their job protections, declared ‘open season’ on every one of them’” (Lowry). Across the country as rights are being won each day for marriage equality, rights for gender identity are either being removed, as in this example, or not noticed at all.

Transgender students also face an array of discrimination in schools, such as being forced into using the bathroom of their assigned gender and not being recognized by the school as the gender that the student identifies with, typically leading to schools referring to that student by their assigned gender and its pronouns. This action is extremely demeaning and also poses the question of what bathroom to use. Rather than utilizing gender non-specific restrooms, schools commonly use bathrooms assigned by gender, which can be confusing for students who are recognized by their school as a certain gender, while they themselves identify differently. A discrepancy in appearance also tends to confuse other students, who remain mostly ignorant on the issue. “While a bathroom is just a bathroom, it can hold great significance for transgender and gender nonconforming kids, especially those seeking acceptance from peers” (McGuire, B1), which can make a huge difference between feeling welcome or rejected for transgender students.

Another challenge is participating in sports, specifically the issue of students with varying anatomies changing in the same locker room, although they both identify with a certain gender. Transgender athletes are used to being excluded from locker rooms, because of this problem, but recent actions have also hurt these students even more. “Thirty-two states have adopted policies in recent years regarding transgender athletes…with several states placing restrictions on their ability to compete with teammates of their preferred gender” (Somashekhar, A1). In addition to facing intolerance during the school day, transgender students are also banned from participating in extracurricular sports, because they identify as transgender.

The movement for transgender equality is simple and based on the idea that people who grapple with gender identity still deserve the same rights as any cisgender person. This notion is rejected by opponents to transgender rights, who claim that imposing legislation on the issue would be an attack on religious and personal beliefs, “These laws are used to trump fundamental civil liberties such as free speech and free exercise of religion” (Anderson). Rather than single out those with traditional beliefs, protective legislation is passed to ensure the rights of transgender people, who have faced hate crimes and discrimination for most of history and are now being safeguarded through the law. Another fallacy in the opposition’s argument is that the Constitution provides the right to discriminate against others, because they have a right to free speech and personal beliefs. Although this remains a crucial liberty in our society, the Constitution was not created to protect the right of discrimination, but rather provide protection for those who would otherwise be excluded and legally defenseless.

The lack of transgender rights has led to discrimination and intolerance for those outside of the antediluvian cisgender binary complex. Recently, Leelah Alcorn, a transgender teenager took her life after experiencing extreme discrimination, both from her school and family. She wrote that she didn’t want her death to be in vain and she wanted to bring awareness to the lack of civil rights for transgender people. In modern society, transgender people are subject to discrimination at work and school, by not being recognized as the gender they identify with, which demeans their very existence. Mostly traditional forces are opposed to rights for transgender people, claiming that such rights would be an attack on their basic freedoms. However, such rights would legally establish a position for the defenseless, which was the original goal of the Constitution. Establishing such laws would allow transgender people to live in harmony with society and include them in modern life and it should be the goal of all citizens to enhance the life of others. Maintaining a stance of indifference would only aid the oppressor and not the oppressed and also let tragic deaths, such as Leelah Alcorn’s, would be in vain.

Conclusion

As a progressive society, we have come a long way in addressing the issue of LGBT. This report has discussed the societal stand on whether to legalize LGBT or not. My position on the subject is that people should be allowed to do what pleases them as long as their actions would not infringe other people`s rights and discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation should be prohibited under law in the field of employment. Gays, lesbians, bisexuals have equal rights to heterosexuals. Homosexual practices may lead to increase in pedophilia. It is the sexual feeling for children in an adult. The act affects the future of the children in the family and the society as a whole. It also believes that homosexuals cause more violence than heterosexual. As a result of this, gays lead to a violation of societal laws. The argument by the liberals that marriage is the union of persons who love each other. Therefore, gays, lesbianism, transgender and bisexual should be legal to ensure that there is an equal right for everyone and that one group`s right should not be violated. Believing that every individual regardless of their sexual orientation has the right to marry hence denying gays and lesbians from marrying denies them their civil rights. Such arguments are out of place in democratic societies that seek the common good for the largest portion or number of the people. We cannot allow these immoral and unnatural practices destroy the procreation of the human species just for the sake of the few individuals who practice it. The fact that, in the family view, same-sex marriage, promote the homosexual lifestyle. Therefore, recognizing same-sex marriage will lead to obscure of particular moral values and weakening of public morality. To sum up, this practice should be examined, and a sound way of eradicating it from the face of the earth should be found as human dignity is being corroded.

References

1. Aragon, S. R., Poteat, V. P., Espelage, D. L., & Koenig, B. W. (2014). The influence of peer victimization on educational outcomes for LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ high school students. Journal of LGBT Youth, 11(1), 1-19.
2. Knight, R. E., Shoveller, J. A., Carson, A. M., & Contreras-Whitney, J. G. (2014). Examining clinicians’ experiences providing sexual health services for LGBTQ youth: considering social and structural determinants of health in clinical practice. Health education research, 29(4), 662-670.
3. Mayfield, J., De May, H., Nanez, A., Tillery, K., Winer, J., Ball, E., & Crandall, C. (2016). Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Healthcare in Undergraduate Medical Education: Assessment and Focused Intervention for Medical Students Transitioning to the Wards.
4. Anderson, Ryan T. “Special Protections Shouldn’t Trump Basic Liberties.” Heritage Foundation. 26 Sep. 2013: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 19 Feb. 2015
5. Lowry, Bryan. “Gov. Sam Brownback Rescinds Protected-class Status for LGBT State Workers in Kansas.” Kansas City Star. Kansas City Star, 10 Feb. 2015. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.
6. Malone, Luke. “Here Are The 32 States Where You Can Be Fired For Being LGBT.” Vocativ. 12 Feb. 2015. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.
7. McGuire, Kim. “New School Bathrooms Welcome All Genders.” Star Tribune 26 Dec. 2014. Star Tribune. Web. 18 Feb. 2015.
8. Somashekhar, Sandhya. “Transgender Athletes Struggle to Find Their Playing Field.” Washington Post. 04 Oct. 2014: A.1. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.

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