COLEGIUL NAIONAL VASILE ALECSANDRI GALAI

LUCRARE DE ATESTAT

Coordonator: Prof. Ramona SMADU

Absolvent:
Claudia SMADU

Anul
2017
COLEGIUL NAIONAL VASILE ALECSANDRI GALAI

The LGBT Community

Coordonator: Prof. Ramona SMADU

Absolvent:
Claudia SMADU

Anul
2017
Contents

Foreword.......................................................................................................................... 1
1. Acronym and Symbols.................................................................................................... 2
2. LGBT Human Rights...................................................................................................... 3
3. Issues the LGBT Community is faced with .................................................................. 5
I. Marginalization and Social Exclusion.................................................... 5
II. Impact of Family Reactions on LGBT Children .................................. 6
III. Poor Economic Condition and Discrimination in the Workplace....... 7
IV. Problems of Criminalization .................................................................. 7
V. Marriage Inequality ................................................................................ 8
4. Decriminalization ............................................................................................................ 9
5. Final Remarks ................................................................................................................ 10
 Foreword
Being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender in this society is not exactly seen as
normal. Though the Declaration of Independence states that, all men are created equal,
equality is something these individuals struggle with, and have yet to achieve. LGBT
discrimination comes in many forms. It can vary from something as minor as an unfriendly glance
to a major issue like the refusal of employment. Discrimination towards those who are LGBT
causes many to live unsatisfactory lives, for a reason they have no control over. Although
discrimination is a constant problem for the LGBT community, the progress of LGBT acceptance
from society in these past years shows that equality for these individuals is highly attainable,
possibly in the near future.

The motivation to choose The LGBT Community as theme of my project stems from my
participation in GalMUN Conference 2016, debating on this exact topic. At first, I did not know
very much regarding this subject, but once I started doing my research, I realised how much
pression these people are being put under just for being different. I instantly thought...What if it
was me?

In the essay can be found the most important aspects than can make one understand how
serious the problems of the LGBT Community are, beginning with an explanation of their specific
terms and symbols. The rights of these people will also be presented. The essay ends with the
major hardships the LGBT Community is faced with: Marginalization and Social Exclusion,
Impact of Family Reactions on LGBT Children, Poor Economic Condition and Discrimination in
the Workplace, Problems of Criminalization and the measures the Governments should take
regarding this topic.
 1. I. Acronym

LGBT is an acronym that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since
the 1990s, the term is an adaptation of the acronym LGB, which was used to replace the
term gay in reference to the LGBT community beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s. Activists
believed that the term gay community did not accurately represent all those to whom it referred,
with which I completely agree with.

The acronym has become mainstream as a self-designation; it has been adopted by the
majority of sexuality and gender identity-based community centers and media in the United States,
as well as some other English-speaking countries. The term is used also in some other countries,
particularly those which languages use the acronym, such as Argentina, France, and Turkey.

1.II. Symbols

The gay community is frequently associated with

certain symbols; especially the rainbow or rainbow flags.
The Greek lambda symbol ("L" for liberation), triangles,
ribbons, and gender symbols are also used as "gay
acceptance" symbol. There are many types of flags to
represent subdivisions in the gay community, but the most
commonly recognized one is the rainbow flag. According
to Gilbert Baker, creator of the commonly known rainbow
flag, each color represents a value in the community: 2.1. The LGBT Flag

indigo = harmony
pink = sexuality
violet = spirit
red = life
turquoise = art
orange = healing
yellow = the sun
green = nature
blue = art
 2. The LGBT Human Rights
We all have a sexual orientation and a gender identity, and this shared fact means that
discrimination against members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community, based
on sexual orientation and/ or gender identity, is an issue that transcends that community and
affects all of us. (amnestyusa.org)

Sexual orientation covers sexual desires, feelings, practices and identification. Sexual
orientation can be towards people of the same or different sexes (same-sex, heterosexual or
bisexual orientation). Gender identity refers to the complex relationship between sex and gender,
referring to a person's experience of self-expression in relation to social categories of masculinity
or femininity (gender). A person's subjectively felt gender identity may be at variance with their
sex or physiological characteristics.

Amnesty International believes that all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or
gender identity, should be able to enjoy their human rights. Although the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights does not explicitly mention sexual orientation or gender identity, evolving
conceptions of international human rights law include a broad interpretation to include the rights
and the protection of the rights of LGBT people around the world.

2.2.The LGBT Motto

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 The Yogyakarta Principles on the Application of International Human Rights Law in
Relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, developed in 2006 by a group of LGBT
experts in Yogyarkarta, Indonesia in response to well-known examples of abuse, provides a
universal guide to applying international human rights law to violations experienced by lesbians,
gay men, bisexual and transgender people to ensure the universal reach of human rights
protections.

However, across the globe, there remain many instances where an individuals' sexual
orientation or gender identity can lead them to face execution, imprisonment, torture, violence or
discrimination. The range of abuse is limitless and it contravenes the fundamental tenets of
international human rights law.

Human rights abuses based on sexual orientation or gender can include violation of the
rights of the child; the infliction of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment (Article 5);
arbitrary detention on grounds of identity or beliefs (Article 9); the restriction of freedom of
association (Article 20) and the denial of the basic rights of due process.

Examples include:

Execution by the state

Denial of employment, housing or health services
Loss of custody of children
Denial of asylum
Rape and otherwise torture in detention
Threats for campaigning for LGBT human rights
Regular subjection to verbal abuse

In many countries, the refusal of governments to address violence committed against LGBT
people creates a culture of impunity where such abuses can continue and escalate unmitigated.
Often, such abuses are committed by the state authorities themselves, with or without legal
sanction.

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 3. Issues the LGBT Community is faced with
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) people face tremendous difficulties growing
up in a society where heterosexuality is often presented as the only acceptable orientation and
homosexuality is regarded as deviant. They continue to face discrimination and exclusion across
the world in all spheres of life. Homophobic violence and abuse targeting LGBT people occur on
a regular basis. In most EU Member States, same-sex couples do not enjoy the same rights and
protections as opposite sex couples, and consequently suffer from discrimination and disadvantage
in access to social protection schemes, such as health care and pensions. In the labour market, a
majority of LGBT people continue to hide their sexual orientation or to endure harassment out of
fear of losing their job. Particularly vulnerable are young LGBT people who experience
estrangement from family and friendship networks, harassment at school and invisibility, which
can lead in some cases to underachievement at school, school drop-out, mental ill-health and
homelessness. Discrimination not only denies LGBT people equal access to key social goods, such
as employment, health care, education and housing, but it also marginalizes them in society and
makes them one of the vulnerable groups who are at risk of becoming socially excluded. Here I
am highlighting some major problems faced by LGBT people across the world:

I. Marginalization and Social Exclusion:

Marginalization is at the core of exclusion from fulfilling and full social lives at individual,
interpersonal and societal levels. People who are marginalized have relatively little control over
their lives and the resources available to them; they may become stigmatized and are often at the
receiving end of negative public attitudes. Their opportunities to make social contributions may
be limited and they may develop low self-confidence and self esteem and may become isolated.
Social policies and practices may mean they have relatively limited access to valued social
resources such as education and health services, housing, income, leisure activities and work. The
impacts of marginalization, in terms of social exclusion, are similar, whatever the origins and
processes of marginalization, irrespective of whether these are to be located in social attitudes
(such as towards impairment, sexuality, ethnicity and so on) or social circumstance (such as
closure of workplaces, absence of affordable housing and so on). LGBT individuals may

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experience multiple forms of marginalization-such as racism, sexism, poverty or other factors
alongside homophobia or transphobia that negatively impact on mental health. The stigma attached
to sexual orientation and gender identity or expression that fall outside the expected heterosexual,
non-transgender norm relegates many LGBT people to the margins of society. This
marginalization often excludes LGBT people from many support structures, often including their
own families, leaving them with little access to services many others take for granted, such as
medical care, justice and legal services, and education. Marginalization and bias around sexual
orientation and gender identity and expression regularly prevent LGBT people from accessing
fundamental public services such as health care and housing and contributes to significant health
disparities.
II. Impact of Family Reactions on LGBT Children

Conflict and Rejection In the past, very few adolescents came out to their families or
told others they were gay. Most lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals (LGB) waited until they were
adults to talk about their LGB identity with others. Fear of rejection and serious negative reactions
kept many LGB adults from openly sharing their lives. Until the 1990s, there were limited
resources for LGBT youth. Gay and transgender adolescents had few sources of information to
learn about their identity or to find support. Until recently, little was known about how families
react when an LGBT young person comes out during adolescence. Adolescents who feel like their
parents want to change who they are think their parents dont love them or even hate them. Lack
of communication and misunderstanding between parents and their LGBT children increases
family conflict. These problems with communication and lack of understanding about sexual
orientation and gender identity can lead to fighting and family disruption that can result in an
LGBT adolescent being removed from or forced out of the home. Many LGBT youth are placed
in foster care, or end up in juvenile detention or on the streets, because of family conflict related
to their LGBT identity. These factors increase their risk for abuse and for serious health and mental
health problems. Research from FAP shows that family rejection has a serious impact on LGBT
young peoples health and mental health. LGBT young people who were rejected by their families
because of their identity have much lower self-esteem and have fewer people they can turn to for
help. They are also more isolated and have less support than those who were accepted by their
families. Many LGBT youth and those who question their identity feel like they have to hide who

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they are to avoid being rejected. Many hide so that they wont hurt their parents and other family
members who believe that being gay is wrong or sinful. But hiding has a cost..

III. Poor Economic Condition and Discrimination in the Workplace

In addition to homophobia, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people confront racism
and poverty on a daily basis. Discrimination of LGBT persons in the workplace is a significant
factor in the differences in socioeconomic status for LGBT persons. Gay and transgender
individuals suffer from socioeconomic inequalities in large part due to pervasive discrimination in
the workplace. Discrimination directly causes job instability and high turnover, resulting in greater
unemployment and poverty rates for gay and transgender people, as well as the wage gap between
gay and straight. In her 1998 report, Income Inflation: The Myth of Affluence Among Gay,
Lesbian, and Bisexual Americans, economist Lee Badgett12 notes that LGBT people do not earn
more than heterosexual people. Badgett points to the diversity of economic life among LGBT
populations, observing that in many cases, LGBT people earn less than their heterosexual
counterparts.
IV. Problems of Criminalization
In some countries, homosexuality is illegal and punishable by fines, imprisonment, life
imprisonment and even the death penalty. Generally speaking, regardless of Sunni or Shia, a
majority of Muslims do have very negative attitudes toward people of LGBT. To the traditionalists
the Quran is clear about homosexuality, and there is no tolerance for debating the context or
semantics. According to Mission Islam, an online network on varying Islamic teachings, every
major Islamic school of thought considers sex between two men to be sinful and unlawful. Some
schools of thought believe it merits severe physical punishment; including stoning to death. Others
would sentence it with imprisonment or banishment from the state. Today, most governments that
follow Islamic law defer on the punishment used for offenders. But, there have been cases where
men convicted of having gay sex have been killed. According to the International Lesbian and Gay
Association, only eight predominately Muslim countries, as of 2011, retain capital punishment for
homosexual behavior: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Yemen, Qatar, Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria and Mauritania.
LGBT Muslims living in the United States do not typically experience this sort of physical
punishment though they often face verbal persecution and social exclusion from traditional

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Muslim communities14. The advancement of gay rights also took a huge step back in the country
of India. According to Reuters on December 2011, Indias Supreme Court has overturned a ruling
by a lower court back in 2009 that decriminalized gay sex in the country, thus ruling homosexuality
as an offense. Section 377 of Indias penal code that dates back to the 19th century bans sex
against the order of nature. Homosexuality fits that definition and is an offense punishable to up
to 10 years in prison15 . (Chatterjee Subhrajit, 2014:317)

V. Marriage Equality

The right of adults to enter into consensual marriage is enshrined in international human
rights standards.

Article 16, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR):

Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion,
have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage,
during marriage and at its dissolution.

For more than a decade, this non-discrimination principle has been interpreted by UN treaty
bodies and numerous inter-governmental human rights bodies as prohibiting discrimination based
on gender or sexual orientation. Non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation has therefore
become an internationally recognized principle and many countries have responded by bringing
their domestic laws into line with this principle in a range of spheres including partnership rights.

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 5.Decriminalization
The criminalization of people based on their sexual orientation contravenes international
and regional human rights treaties.

Such systematic discrimination reinforces the disadvantages experienced by lesbian, gay,

bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and can be used as justification for violence against them,
whether on the street, at home, or in prison.

In such countries, homophobic and transphobic individuals or groups take these laws as
permission to target lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, organizations and events.
Amnesty International has documented cases where law enforcement officials have arbitrarily
arrested individuals on the basis of allegations about sexual orientation, rumors of sexual behavior
or objection to gender presentation, with few, if any, consequences for torture or other ill-
treatment.

People detained or imprisoned solely because of their homosexuality including those

individuals prosecuted for having sex in circumstances which would not be criminal for
heterosexuals, or for their gender identity are considered to be prisoners of conscience.

Amnesty International calls for the decriminalization of homosexuality where such

legislation remains, including a review of all legislation which could result in the discrimination,
prosecution and punishment of people solely for their sexual orientation or gender identity.

This includes:

"Sodomy" laws or similar provisions outlawing sexual conduct between people of same-
sex or transgender individuals;
Discriminatory age-of-consent legislation;
Public order legislation used as a pretext for prosecuting and punishing people solely for
their sexual orientation or gender identity;
Laws banning the promotion of homosexuality which can be used to imprison lesbian,
gay, bisexual, same-sex practicing and transgender individuals and human rights
defenders.

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 6. Final remarks

Though factors of various types of LGBT discrimination come into play, LGBT
equality is still very much attainable. As society continues to progress, so will this topic. A
little over a hundred years ago, it was considered acceptable to marry into your own family.
Now, that would be considered an abomination. The definition of normal is constantly
changing, and the molding of what is considered ordinary is inevitable. Perhaps one day topics
like gay marriage, LGBT equality, and LGBT acceptance will not even be considered major
issues. Through slow progression into the near future, sexual diversity may not even be a
controversial matter anymore. It is shown through surveys that acceptance is growing, and is
predicted to branch out even farther in the near future. It may not happen right away, but LGBT
equality is highly achievable.

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 References
1. Printed sources:
-Chatterjee Subhrajit, Problems Faced by LGBT People in the Mainstream Society:
Some Recommendations in The International Journal of Interdisciplinary and
Multidisciplinary Studies (IJIMS), 2014, Vol 1, No.5, 317-331.
-The Declaration of Human Rights, Article 16
2. Online Resources
-Human Rights dont discriminate, <amnestyusa.org>

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