by emily yamaguchi
photo by Jesse Warner (@warnerjesse on instagram)
It is without a doubt that the coronavirus pandemic has changed nearly every aspect of our lives. It has affected the economy, our schools, our jobs, and it has disproportionately affected some groups of people more than others, such as the elderly and young children in the “at risk” age range. However, groups who are already marginalized even when they are not in the middle of a global pandemic will experience increased vulnerability. Across the world, people in the LGBTQ+ community are often subjected to more violence, stigmatization, and exclusion. A recent study conducted by OutRight Action International has been observing how the COVID-19 pandemic has been impacting the LGBTQ+ community. They interviewed 59 LGBTQ+ people in 38 countries across the world to determine how they have been affected both by the pandemic itself and by the measures taken to attempt to stop the pandemic or “flatten the curve”.
Through their study, OutRight found 7 “key themes” that display how the LGBTQ+ community is affected:
devastation of livelihood and rising food insecurity
difficulty accessing health care
increased risk of domestic violence
increased anxiety
fear of violence
abuse of state power
concerns about community support and organizational survival
Although these problems were not necessarily created by the pandemic, it has most definitely heightened them. According to the study, a few South American countries have designated different days for men and women to shop, which completely excludes those who do not identify as male or female. There have been several instances of trans individuals being abused or arrested because people assumed they were violating these laws.
In addition to food insecurity, difficulty accessing essential health care is another problem that was amplified by this crisis. The pandemic has completely overwhelmed healthcare systems around the world, which is an even more devastating problem in countries that do not have the best healthcare to begin with. Discrimination, outing, and being misgendered are just a few of the many reasons that some LGBTQ+ people choose not to seek help. In some countries, LGBTQ+ people are denied care altogether, even if they do choose to try and get help if they are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. The pandemic has also made getting access to HIV medication and other medication such as antidepressants much more difficult.
Unfortunately, many LGBTQ+ people who are not accepted by their families are forced to stay with them due to the quarantine. Many cities have reported more cases of domestic violence, and some of the victims have had a much harder time finding help, since not all law enforcement and first responders are accepting of those who are not straight/cis-gendered. Not being accepted by their family (or whoever they’re forced to quarantine with) also experienced increased anxiety, and even fear due to the fact that they have to experience this extra isolation and rejection.
In addition to conducting this study, OutRight has also created an emergency fund, a webinar series, and other efforts to help the LGBTQ+ community during this time.
Learn more about what they’re doing here: https://outrightinternational.org/content/outrights-response-covid?utm_source=covid19_research_launch
Read the full study here:
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