Love is Love

By: Ava Wilson

Love in its purest form is beautiful and equally valid no matter who the two individuals may be. LGBTQ+ is defined as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. Sexual and gender diverse people experience interpersonal and structural discrimination that adversely affects their well-being. The current nondiscrimination laws across the county in different states has existing gaps in civil rights laws. This results in millions of people within the community without protection form such issues as discrimination. People experience these situations in the workplace, in public places such as restaurants, healthcare facilities, and much more. Discrimination in any form whether its religious, racial, sexuality, etc. can lead to severe mental health issues for individuals. Everyone has a sexual orientation and gender identity.

Younger adolescents that are a part of the LGBTQ+ community struggle significantly with mental health concerns. This includes but is not limited to mental health disorders, substance abuse problems, and even suicide. It is important to note that individuals within the community can be incredibly resilient and able to thrive in the face of adversity, with the help of supportive family members, friends, communities, workplaces, peers, etc. One of the most concerning issues is the inability for these individuals to access healthcare. There have been instances where a member of the LGBTQ+ community has reported that they have faced situations with healthcare providers that denied them care, used explicit/harsh language/jargon, or even blamed their sexual orientation or gender identity as the cause of their mental illnesses and disorders. These problems cause a domino effect. This means that it brings about fear for other individuals to express their sexual orientation or gender identity or even seek access to healthcare for their personal health issues. However, in 2011, the Joint commission, which is an independent non-profit national organization that accredits and certifies more than 20,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, started requiring for healthcare facilities such as hospitals prohibit discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender expression.

Before we can build relationships with people within the LGBTQ+ community, we need to recognize the unique struggles that they face. One of the easiest ways to do this is to acknowledge someone else’s emotions, feelings, and thoughts. Meeting people where they are in their journey gives validation to these individuals. Overtime, people, and organizations have worked to combat these issues to make for a more inclusive and comfortable world for everyone to live in. There are many mental health resources out there for the LGBTQ+ communities. Here are some resources for Mental health within the LGBTQ+ community.

-          The Trevor Project TrevorLifeline/Chat/Text

-          National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network: healing justice org committed to transforming mental health for queer & trans people of color (QTPoC)

-          Mental Health Fund for Queer and Trans People of Color: provides financial support for QTPoC to increase access to mental health support.

-          Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN): national network of educators, students, and local chapters working to give students a safe, supportive, and LGBTQ+ inclusive education.

-          Human Rights Campaign: America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve LGBTQ equality. Their website has a wealth of information and resources for the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.